HEART OF TEXAS

Gavin Dugas lifts LSU over Texas

BY COLE HERNANDEZ @Ct_hernandez

After winning the Round Rock Classic title, top-ranked LSU baseball remained in Texas and traveled to Austin for a Tuesday night matchup with the Texas Longhorns.

Texas played three SEC opponents in its first seven games to start the season and struggled to a 3-4 record with losses to Arkansas, Missouri, Vanderbilt and Indiana, but the Tigers knew they were still in for a tough midweek battle.

Texas’ starting right-handed pitcher Lebarron Johnson Jr. did his part in preventing an easy LSU win. Johnson threw five shutout innings and nine strikeouts while only allowing three hits and two walks.

Starting right-handed pitcher Thatcher Hurd kept LSU in the game early on defense. He lasted 4.2 scoreless innings with four strikeouts and silenced the Longhorn fans at Disch-Falk Field by only giving up three hits.

Left-handed reliever Nate Ackenhausen made his second appearance on the mound this season in the fifth inning and was credited with his first win. He worked through 3.1 scoreless innings with four strikeouts, one

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hit and one walk.

Beginning the final inning of the ballgame, the scoreboard was knotted at zero. Each team had one more chance to score and LSU took advantage.

Texas’ closer Chris Stuart entered the game and walked his first two batters, catcher Brady Neal and shortstop Jordan Thompson. Stuart struck out Ben Nippolt for the first out of the inning and then closer Andre Duplantier II came into the game.

Hitting out of the first position in the batting order and in front of projected top pick Dylan Crews, senior second baseman Gavin Dugas smacked a clutch, see SHUTOUT, page 10