By Steve Habel, Senior Contributing Writer
AUSTIN – The strut is back in Texas baseball, rediscovered after an appearance in the College World Series last season and stoked through the first 11 games this year by a Longhorns’ team that makes its own breaks and exploits the mistakes made by opponents.
On Friday, even powerhouse No. 2 LSU got caught up in the Longhorns storm. No. 22 Texas produced a performance in a 8-1 victory over the Tigers that had jam-packed UFCU Disch-Falk Field buzzing despite the chilly conditions.
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Duke Ellis had two hits, including a two-run home run in the fourth inning that gave Texas a lead it would not relinquish, and Bryce Elder continued to fulfill his role as the Longhorns’ Friday night starter as Texas improved to 8-3.
Dishin’ at a Full Disch-Falk
The sold-out crowd of 7,680 on Friday was the largest for a regular-season game since April 2012 against Texas A&M (remember them?) and the 14th largest non-playoff crowd in school history.
This weekend’s three-game series marks LSU’s first visit to Austin since 1998.
“I wouldn’t call this a statement game but we have some young guys in there that realize they can play with anybody in the country, and that creates a lot of confidence,” Texas coach David Pierce said. “We had great energy in the building, great play and great pitching. But this is just Game 1 — we have to get ready for game 2 now.”
Texas and LSU each have won six College World Series titles, which is the second-highest total in NCAA Division I history and trails only Southern California (12). It would be hard to find a higher-profile early-season matchup, but the Longhorns were much the best on Friday.
“It was a huge game for us, especially after losing earlier in the week,” Ellis said after Texas wiped the slate clean from a sloppy loss Wednesday to UTSA. “We showed we can beat anyone if we just execute.”
This game had the feel and intensity of a NCAA playoff game – until the seventh inning, when Texas put the game out of reach with five runs and sent notice that things were not going to be easy, at any time this weekend, for LSU.
Texas Takes Total Control
How bad did things get for the Tigers?
They didn’t even bother to cover second base on a stolen base attempt by Ellis in the seventh inning with the Longhorns up 7-1, all but throwing in the towel and conceding their first loss in nine games this season.
Texas pounded four LSU pitchers for 11 hits, as Eric Kennedy, Ryan Reynolds and Masen Hibbeler also collected two hits each for the Longhorns. Nine of the Longhorns’ hits were singles, and Texas also drew nine walks, eventually leaving 11 runners on base
After the Tigers scored an unearned run in the first inning, Texas tied the game on bases-loaded walk to Tate Shaw in the third that plated Austin Todd.
The Longhorns took the lead for good with one out in the fourth as Ellis ripped his two-run opposite home run to left field off LSU starting pitcher Zack Hess (1-1) that pushed home Hibbeler.
Asked where Ellis’ name would have come up on a list of hitters to homer to the opposite field on a cold night, Pierce chided that he would have gone down the bench before picking Ellis.
“We have 16 hitters — so right around there,” Pierce said with a smile.
“I stayed within my swing, shortened up and hit it right,” Ellis said about the home run. “I figured a fastball was coming, and when I hit it I had no idea how well I hit it – I didn’t even feel it.”
Elder Excels Again
Elder (2-0) handcuffed the Tigers on four hits through 6 2/3 innings, allowing one unearned run while striking out seven, walking three and hitting a batter. His throwing error and two wild pitches in the first inning produced LSU’s only tally, and all seven of his strikeouts came on Elder’s baffling array of breaking pitches.
“I didn’t have a curve or a changeup tonight, so I had to be good with the fastball in and the slider,” Elder said. “I just focused on making the best pitch withe every pitch, not worrying about the situation and who was at the plate. A good pitch is a good pitch anytime.”
Kamron Fields threw the final 2 1/3 innings without allowing a hit, walking two and striking out one to close the game.
Texas pushed its lead to 8-1 in the seventh as a Reynolds single drove home Todd and a passed ball allowed pinch-runner Lance Ford to come home. A Hibbeler single off the chest of LSU’s shortstop with the infield in chased home Shaw and Reynolds, and, one out and a walk later, an error gave Hibbeler the chance to sprint home
The two teams return to the field on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. to play in front of another sell out crowd, with the series finale on Sunday at 1 p.m.
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