FINAL
LSU Tigers - 2
Texas Longhorns - 6
BOX SCORE
Winning Pitcher: Ruger Riojas (5-1)
Losing Pitcher: Chase Shores (4-1)
Save: Dylan Volantis (5)
RECAP
In the Top 1st, masher Jared Jones got a 1 out hit off Texas starting pitcher RHP Ruger Riojas, followed by a walk to put two men on with just one out. A number of fans immediately began to think back to Friday night and wondered what the game would hold for Texas. Not deterred, Ruger bounced back to get two straight fly outs to strand the runners on base.
In the Bottom 1st, 2B Ethan Mendoza led off with a walk, putting together a very patient at-bat in which he saw multiple 96-97mph fastballs and a wipeout 85-87mph slider. After both RF Max Belyeu and SS Jalin Flores failed to get on base, though Max did move Mendoza over to 2B, it brought one of the hottest hitting fuys in the nation to the plate in C Rylan Galvan. Galvan continued his hot streak by sending a fastball to deep CF for an RBI single to give the Horns an early 1-0 lead. Texas put more pressure on the LSU starter as 3B Adrian Rodriguez hit a deep ball to right CF that bounces off the wall just short of a two run home run to put runners on 2B and 3B. Unfortunately 1B Kimble Schuessler could not plate any more runs, but the Texas offense forced the LSU starter to throw 32 pitches in the first frame, setting the tone for the game.
In the Top 2nd, Ruger was back on the mound and immediately struck out the first two batters he faced before giving up a 2 out single to LF. Ruger bounced back though and got the next batter out on a fielder's choice to put up another zero on the board.
In the Bottom 2nd, the Horns offense picked back up right where they left off in the first inning. CF Will Gasparino went deep in a count and then hit a hard ball to the left side that went off the glove of 3B for a 1 out double. LF Tommy Farmer then hit a hard hit liner to LF for an RBI single to make it 2-0 Horns. 2B Ethan Mendoza kept the hit parade going as he hit a single through the right side, putting runners on 1B and 3B, still with just one out. RF Max Belyeu then hit a hard chopper to the left side that allowed Tommy Farmer to score to make it 3-0 Horns.
In the 3rd inning, both Texas and LSU were able to get a runner on base via a single, but came up empty otherwise.
In the Top 4th inning, Ruger went back to work and retired the side in order, racking up two strikeouts in the process.
In the Bottom 4th, CF Will Gasparino and LF Tommy Farmer both made contact but had nothing to show for it. 2B Ethan Mendoza then did what he does, which is get on base as he drew a walk, bringing RF Max Belyeu back to the plate. After Max's first at-bat, Coach Jim Schlossnagle pulled Max aside in the dugout and told him to replicate what he did as he made really good contact and stayed with the ball instead of reaching and rolling over it, something that has plagued him recently.
Max did exactly that and absolutely crushed a 96mph fastball to RF, sending it to Comal Street for a 2 run home run and giving the Horns a 5-0 lead, while sending the crowd into euphoria.
In the Top 5th, RHP Ruger Riojas continued his masterclass on the mound. Despite giving up a lead off single, Ruger got the 9 hole hitter to hit into a grounder for a double play. Ruger would give up a two out single to lead off man Derek Curiel, but completely unfazed, Ruger struck out LSU's best bat in Jared Jones with an exception pitch on the outside corner.
In the Bottom 5th, LSU finally went to the bullpen after their starter had thrown 90 pitches and given up 5 runs. LSU reliever RHP Casan Evans immediately went to work with a nasty 97mph fastball and slider mix, carving up Rylan Galvan and Adrian Rodriguez. Kimble Scuhessler then reached on an error as he hit what should have been a routine fly ball to RF, but the defender had it bounce of his glove, putting Kimble on 2B. Unfortunately Jaquae Stewart came up empty and was not able to take advantage of the error to keep it at 5-0 Horns.
In the Top 6th, Ruger Riojas led off by plunking the first batter he faced with the first pitch he threw to put the lead off man on. Ruger got the next batter to hit into a fielder's choice for the first out in the inning. The LSU shortstop who had an outstanding series defensively then hit a double down the RF line into the corner, putting runners on 2B and 3B, still with just one out. Ruger then gave up a single to the right side to make it 5-1 Horns. After getting the next batter, a righty out, Jim Schlossnagle finally made the call to the bullpen to bring in freshman LHP Dylan Volantis into the game.
Volantis was able to catch the LSU runner trying to steal 2B, but the pick off went long enough to score the runner from 3B to make it 5-2 heading into the Bottom of the 6th inning.
In the Bottom 6th, the Horns got a 1 out single from Tommy "The Rancher" Farmer, but he was erased as Ethan Mendoza hit into a fielder's choice. That brought Max Belyeu up to bat with 2 outs and a runner on 1B. Belyeu proceeded to hit a laser to left field that had just enough sink on it to hit the ground in front of a diving Derek Curiel and roll to the wall for an RBI triple, making it 6-2 Horns.
In the 7th inning, Dylan Volantis and Casan Evans traded 3 up 3 downs as they both retired the side to keep it 6-2 Horns, with Dylan Volantis filling up the strike zone, as he struck out the side in order.
In the Top 8th inning, Dylan Volantis once again sat the Tigers down in order, racking up two more strikeouts in the process.
In the Bottom 8th, DH Jaquae Stewart led off with a single to RF, his first of the weekend. Will Gasparino then popped up to 2B for the first out. Tommy Farmer then collected another hit on the day as he hit a single to RF, putting runners on 1B and 3B, still with just 1 out. Tommy Farmer then proceeded to steal 2B to put runners on 2B and 3B with just one out. Unfortunately, the Horns would come up empty as Ethan Mendoza struck out swinging and then Jayden Duplantier, who pinch ran for Jaquae Stewart was caught stealing home for the last out of the inning.
In the Top 9th, freshman LHP Dylan Volantis was back on the mound and quickly got two outs. After freshman pinch hitter Cade Arrambide drew a four pitch walk, Coach Max Weiner had a quick chat with Volantis. The zen moment between the two worked as Volantis got the next LSU batter to hit a ground out to Adrian Rodriguez who made a really nice play and throw to 1B for the final out, sending the Longhorn crowd into a thunderous roar of applause.
The Horns did not just win the game, they won the series against the #2 team in the nation. THAT is big time SEC ball right there!
BIG MOMENT
Holding a 3-0 lead in the Bottom 4th, a lead which seemed a bit tenuous considering the type of offense that LSU has and the toughness of the SEC, the biggest name on the Texas team came through with a massive shot of confidence to the team.
With 2 outs and a runner on 1B, Max Belyeu got a 96mph fastball over the heart of the plate and absolutely crushed it. 403 feet and 107mph off the bat. That was an absolute piss missile to RF.
The game suddenly did not feel as tenuous and suddenly felt more like Friday night when the Tigers beat up on the Horns in the middle innings and left them a bit shell shocked, except this time it was the Horns that did that to the Tigers.
INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE
Max Belyeu deserves the award. Tommy Farmer deserves the award. Hell, even Dylan Volantis deserves the award, but instead, it is UTSA transfer RHP Ruger Riojas that gets the award.
I stated in the game thread that Texas needed Ruger to shove and he did exactly that.
5.2 innings of f*%& you baseball on the mound against a very talented lineup. The final line on Riojas was 5.2 IP, 7 hits, 2 runs, 2 earned runs, 1 walk, 6 strikeouts
Oh and Ruger also had some elite hat game in the post game media conference
NEXT UP:
Horns will host Sam Houston on Tuesday night at 630pm. The full preview will be posted tomorrow along with the newest episode of Around the Horns with Coach Schlossnagle as we talk about the LSU series.
