Opening night inside Russo Park was full of energy on Friday night, and the season opening matchup between the Louisiana Ragin Cajuns (0-1) and the Texas Longhorns (1-0) was filled with drama in the later innings. However, the Longhorns were able to come away with a 3-1 win in extra innings.
How It Happened:
The Longhorns struck first when Michael McCann got a hold of one in the top of the seventh, resulting in a ground-rule double to get DJ Petrinsky home safely. The Cajuns were up against the wall in the bottom of the ninth with one out, but Brennan Breaux was able to score off of a fielder’s choice by Handsome Monica to knot it up at one run apiece.
Texas responded in the tenth when Austin Todd blasted one out to left center to score two runs and help give them the win.
Big Number: 77
Gunner Leger returned to action for the first time in over 600 days and had a solid outing, throwing 77 pitches in five shutout innings. The senior allowed only two hits on the night in a no-decision.
Player of the Game: Austin Todd
How can you not give it to the sophomore out of Round Rock, Texas? That two-run double in the tenth was the deciding factor in the win for the Longhorns. Outside of that, he had a solid night at the dish, going three-of-four on the evening.
Next Up: Game 2 vs Texas; First Pitch at 2 pm
-Clint Domingue