LSU loses first game of season to Texas 8-1

Bryce Elder and Kamron Fields combined on a four-hitter as Texas defeated LSU 8-1 in a non-conference game at UFCU Disch-Faulk Field in Austin on Friday night.

HOW THEY SCORED

LSU first inning – With one out, Zach Watson singled. Watson advanced to second on an error by Elder on a pickoff attempt. After Antoine Duplantis struck out, Watson moved to third and scored on wild pitches by Elder. LSU 1, TEXAS 0

Texas third inning – With two out, Austin Todd and Zach Zubia walked. Ryan Reynolds singled to load the bases. Todd scored on a walk to Tate Shaw. LSU 1, TEXAS 1

Texas fourth inning – Masen Hibbeler doubled. After Bryce Reagan struck out, Duke Ellis hit a two-run homer over the leftfield fence. TEXAS 3, LSU 1

Texas seventh inning – Todd walked and went to third on a single by Zubia. Todd scored and pinch-runner Lance Ford advanced to third on a single by Reynolds. Ford scored and Reynolds moved to second on a passed ball by Brock Mathis. Reynolds went to third on Shaw’s infield single. Shaw stole second. After Michael McCann grounded out to the third baseman, Reynolds and Shaw scored on a single by Hibbeler. After Regan flied out to the centerfielder, Hibbeler advanced to third on a single by Ellis. Hibbeler scored when first baseman Cade Beloso made an error on Eric Kennedy’s ground ball. TEXAS 8, LSU 1

LSU PLAYER OF THE GAME

Watson continued his productive hitting out of the No. 2 hole in the lineup. Watson went 2-for-4 and scored the Tigers’ only run on a wild pitch in the first. Watson had a double in the fifth. In four games as the No. 2 batter, Watson is 9-for-14. Watson also made a spectacular diving catch in centerfield.

KEY TEAM STATISTICS

Hits: Texas 11, LSU 4

Errors: LSU 1, Texas 2

Left on base: Texas 11, LSU 8

Runners in scoring position: Texas 5-for-16, LSU 0-for-2

Double plays: LSU 2, Texas 2

Stolen bases: Texas 2, LSU 0

Walks issued: Texas 5, LSU 9

Strikeouts recorded: LSU 8, Texas 8

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

LSU

Zach Watson: 2-for-4, 1 run scored, 1 2B

Josh Smith: 2-for-4

Zack Hess: 4 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 6 K

Chase Costello: 2 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 1 K

TEXAS

Duke Ellis: 2-for-3, 1 run scored, 2 RBIs, 1 HR

Masen Hibbeler: 2-for-4, 2 runs scored, 2 RBIs, 1 2B

Ryan Reynolds: 2-for-4, 1 run scored, 1 RBI

Eric Kennedy: 2-for-5

Austin Todd: 0-for-2, 2 runs scored

Bryce Elder: 6.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 7 K

Kamron Fields: 2.1 IP, 2 BB, 1 K

NOTES

LSU’s starting batting order was Smith, SS; Watson, CF, DH; Duplantis, RF; Daniel Cabrera, LF; Beloso, 1B; Saul Garza, DH; Hal Hughes, 3B; Mathis, C; Brandt Broussard, 2B. . .Smith and Watson picked up all four LSU hits. The bottom seven spots in the batting order were 0-for-22. . .The Tigers got a runner past first base in just two innings. Watson scored on a wild pitch in the first. Duplantis struck out with runners at second and third and two out in the fifth with LSU trailing Texas 3-1. . .Duplantis was the only Tigers batter to come to the plate with a runner in scoring position. He struck out both times. . .LSU went down in order in only two innings – both with Elder on the mound. . .Hess was hit in the arm by a line drive in the first inning. He stayed in the game through the fourth inning. . .Hess walked three batters with two out in the third when Texas scored to tie the game at 1-1. Hess stranded six runners in scoring position in his four innings. The Longhorns were 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position against Hess. . .Chase Costello threw two scoreless innings before allowing the first three batters to reach base in the seventh. All three of those runners scored. . .In one inning, reliever Trent Vietmeier allowed two runs and three hits with one walk. One of the two runs was unearned due to Beloso’s error. . .Riggs Threadgill worked a scoreless eighth with one walk and one strikeout. . .Mathis threw Reynolds out trying to steal second in the eighth. Opposing base runners had been 18-for-18 against Mathis on the season. . .LSU is 8-1, while Texas is 8-3. . .The paid attendance was 7,680.  

UP NEXT

LSU will play Texas at UFCU Disch-Falk Field in Austin on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Central. Landon Marceaux will be the starting pitcher for the Tigers. The LSU-Texas game will be available on the Longhorn Network.