No. 8 Texas bounces back with thrilling 11-7 win over No. 2 LSU

A three-run home run by Rylan Galvan in the fifth and three insurance runs in the eighth keyed the first SEC home win for the Horns.

After looking overmatched on Friday, the No. 8 Texas Longhorns showed some resilience on Saturday at UFCU Disch-Falk Field, getting into the bullpen of the No. 2 LSU Tigers early and taking advantage in an 11-7 win that sets up a Sunday rubber match on the Forty Acres.

Texas junior catcher Rylan Galvan came up with the game’s biggest swing on a go-ahead three-run home run in the fifth inning and the Longhorns were able to slam the door shut with three insurance runs in the eighth inning and strong relief appearances from junior right-hander Max Grubbs and freshman left-hander Dylan Volantis, who recorded the final four outs for his fourth save.

Neither team scored during the first three innings before LSU scored two unearned runs against redshirt junior left-hander Luke Harrison with the help of an error by freshman third baseman Adrian Rodriguez. The trouble started when Harrison allowed a single and a double to start the inning, walking home a run and allowing another on a fielder’s choice before stranding two runners with a strikeout.

Texas responded with three straight one-out singles to score its first run, then added a second on a groundout by senior first baseman Kimble Schuessler.

Harrison started laboring in the fifth inning, issuing a full-count walk and hitting the next batter before giving up an RBI double that ended his outing in favor of Grubbs, who allowed an inherited runner to score on a single and gave up an unearned run when a passed ball by Galvan set up a sacrifice fly.

With LSU leading 5-2, Texas put pressure on starter Anthony Eyanson when sophomore center fielder Will Gasparino drew a leadoff walk and sophomore second baseman Ethan Mendoza hit a one-out single to right center that chased Eyanson. The Horns scored a run on a passed ball and drew a walk against the first reliever for the Tigers, prompting another pitching change that brought in talented freshman right-hander Will Schmidt, who left a 95-mile-per-hour fastball up and out over the plate to Galvan. The red-hot Texas catcher launched the pitch 378 feet into the Yeti Yard in left-center field for a three-run blast to take the lead with two outs in the fifth inning.

In 3.2 innings, Grubbs allowed two runs on five hits, hitting a batter and striking out three. The extended outing from the former starter, who went 70 pitches, allowed Schlossnagle to preserve his bullpen and get to Volantis to close the game, setting Texas up with a chance to take the series on Sunday.

A two-run single by Schuessler that followed an RBI single by junior shortstop Jalin Flores reduced the drama in the final inning while energizing the capacity crowd at the Disch.

With the calmness and poise that is becoming the trademark of Volantis, the big left-hander only needed eight pitches in the eighth inning to retire the Tigers in order, including two strikeouts to end the game.

Texas and LSU battle for the series win on Sunday with first pitch at 2 p.m. Central on SEC Network+.