No. 8 Texas takes series against No. 2 LSU with 6-2 win

The Longhorns got strong pitching and a big game from Max Belyeu on a decisive Sunday.

Whatever separation existed between the No. 8 Texas Longhorns and the No. 2 LSU Tigers in an 8-2 loss on Friday was eliminated over the next two games as head coach Jim Schlossnagle’s team bounced back to win the Saturday and Sunday games to notch a series win in the SEC home debut for the Longhorns at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.

In Sunday’s 6-2 victory, a surprise start by junior right-hander Ruger Riojas turned into a superlative outing over 5.2 innings during which the UTSA transfer allowed two runs on seven hits with six strikeouts and a single walk.

The only trouble that Riojas got into came in the sixth inning when he hit the leadoff batter with his first pitch, then allowed a one-out double and single to score a run, giving up the second when Texas didn’t execute well against a double steal that LSU that resulted in the runner trying to steal second getting caught in a run down while the runner on third scored.

Freshman left-hander Dylan Volantis, in a burgeoning role as a closer, slammed the door on an elite Tigers offense over 3.1 hitless, scoreless innings during which he allowed a walk, but also struck out five batters.

The Longhorns built an early lead at the plate by immediately working deep in counts as sophomore second baseman Ethan Mendoza drew a six-pitch, full-count walk, junior right fielder Max Belyeu grounded out on the 10th pitch he saw, and junior shortstop Jalin Flores struck out on seven pitches.

Junior catcher Rylan Galvan continued his hot streak at the plate with an RBI single to center field to score the game’s first run.

Texas ultimately stranded two runners after freshman third baseman Adrian Rodriguez doubled, but senior first baseman Kimble Schuessler struck out looking on a full count.

In the second inning, the Horns added two more runs when sophomore center fielder Will Gasparino doubled down the third-base line and sophomore left fielder Tommy Farmer singled down the line to drive in Gasparino. After an opposite-field single by Mendoza, Belyeu drove in his first run with a groundout to third base.

Belyeu added to the lead in the fourth inning with a mammoth two-run home run to right field that traveled 403 feet at 107 miles per hour off the bat.

LSU scored its only two runs of the game in the top of the sixth inning, but Texas responded with a two-out rally when Belyeu laced a line drive into left field that was misplayed, resulting in a triple that scored Mendoza, who had reached on a fielder’s choice.

Belyeu finished 2-for-4 with four RBI to lead the Horns at the plate while Farmer added three hits in four at bats at the bottom of the order in addition to flashing his speed in left field to track down a drive to the wall in the ninth inning.

It was all the defensive help that Volantis needed to secure his fifth save as Texas secured its second series win in the SEC and won its debut home series ahead of hosting Sam Houston on Tuesday to close the five-game homestand.