Texas baseball beats LSU Sunday behind dominant pitching effort

Texas baseball has a statement series win. 

Ruger Riojas worked around a two-out single, striking out a pair of Tigers in the frame, before the Longhorns added on. Will Gasparino’s hustle double set up Tommy Farmer’s RBI single, then Max Belyeu plated another run with a groundout.In his first start as a Longhorn, Riojas allowed two earned runs in 5⅔ innings of work while striking out six. The UTSA transfer also pitched four innings in relief in a loss to his former club on Tuesday. In 9⅔ innings this week, he gave up three runs. Ruger Riojas struck out another pair of Tigers in the top of the fourth to bring his total to five on the afternoon. After Ethan Mendoza worked a two-out walk in the bottom half, Max Belyeu slugged a no-doubt home run to right field ‒ his fifth of the season.

The big offensive blow came off the bat of Max Belyeu, who slugged a two-run homer to right field for his fifth long ball of the season and later added an RBI triple. A run-scoring groundout gave him a four-RBI day. Rylan Galvan and Tommy Farmer IV each also singled in a run. 

In the bottom half of the inning, Texas answered thanks to some suspect defense by the Tigers. What looked like an inning-ending double play glanced off the glove of Jared Jones at first base. A batter later, Max Belyeu scored Ethan Mendoza with a triple, aided by an ill-advised dive from Derek Curiel in left field.

Texas baseball live score updates vs LSU

FINAL: Texas 6, LSU 2

The No. 7 Longhorns collected a wire-to-wire 6-2 victory over No. 2 LSU on Sunday to claim the series, led by dominant pitching performances from Ruger Riojas and Dylan Volantis. 

End 8: Texas 6, LSU 2

Volantis might have upstaged him. The true freshman struck out five Tigers (22-3, 4-2 SEC) in 3⅓ scoreless innings of relief. 

End 7: Texas 6, LSU 2

Dylan Volantis continued rolling in the eighth, striking out two more Tigers in a clean inning. Texas threatened in the bottom half of the frame, but pinch runner Jayden Duplantier was caught trying to steal home to end the frame.

End 6: Texas 6, LSU 2

Dylan Volantis, who retired all four Tigers he faced on Saturday night to close out the win, struck out the side in the seventh. LSU’s Casan Evans pitched a clean seventh for the Tigers.

RHP Chase Shores (4-0, 3.80 ERA)

End 5: Texas 5, LSU 0

The strong start by Ruger Riojas continued in the third. The Texas righthander allowed a two-out bunt single, but picked up his third strikeout in another scoreless frame. Adrian Rodriguez singled and stole second in the UT half of the inning but the Longhorns couldn’t take advantage.

End 4: Texas 5, LSU 0

Dylan Volantis shut down the Tigers for the second time in as many days, working around a two-out walk in the ninth inning.

End 3: Texas 3, LSU 0

Ruger Riojas, making his first start as a Longhorn and the third of his career, worked a scoreless first thanks to a nice play by Kimble Schuessler at first base. The Longhorns’ offense struck in the bottom half of the lead to give the hosts the lead, as Rylan Galvan ripped a single up the middle to score Ethan Mendoza.

End 2: Texas 3, LSU 0

Texas (19-3, 5-1) returns to action against Sam Houston on Tuesday.

End 1: Texas 1, LSU 0

The Tigers finally solved Ruger Riojas to some extent in the sixth. He hit the leadoff man and allowed a pair of hits before Jim Schlossnagle lifted him in favor of Dylan Volantis. The Tigers plated two runs in the frame, both charged to Riojas.

What time does Texas baseball play LSU today?

• Time: 2 p.m. CT
• Date: March 23
• Location: UFCU Disch-Falk Field in Austin.

How to watch Texas baseball vs LSU today

• TV: N/A
• Streaming:SEC Network+
• Radio: The Longhorn Radio Network

Texas lineup

1. 2B Ethan Mendoza
2. RF Max Belyeu
3. SS Jalin Flores
4. C Rylan Galvan
5. 3B Adrian Rodriguez
6. 1B Kimble Schuessler
7. DH Jaquae Stewart
8. CF Will Gasparino
9. LF Tommy Farmer IV

LSU lineup

1. LF Derek Curiel
2. 1B Jared Jones
3. 2B Daniel Dickinson
4. DH Josh Pearson
5. SS Steven Milam
6. RF Jake Brown
7. C Luis Hernandez
8. 3B Tanner Reaves
9. CF Chris Stanfield

Texas baseball starting pitcher

Ruger Riojas used a double play and a big strikeout of LSU slugger Jared Jones to complete a scoreless fifth inning for the Longhorns. Texas could not take advantage of a two-base error in the bottom of the inning.

LSU baseball starting pitcher

RHP Ruger Riojas (4-1, 3.98 ERA)