David Pierce backs Max Grubbs on the mound after early home run vs. Louisiana

Through two innings, Max Grubbs put together solid numbers to open the Bryan-College Station Regional against Louisiana. The Texas starter allowed just one hit to go with three strikeouts out of the gate.

That one hit, though, went over the right field fence to give the Ragin’ Cajuns a 1-0 lead. However, Texas coach David Pierce knew exactly what went wrong on that sequence.

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Grubbs went with a breaking ball, but ended up missing his spot on the pitch. Pierce didn’t sound concerned, though, and expressed his confidence in his starter’s ability to bounce back.

“It was just a breaking ball that stayed up and he wanted to finish that pitch right there in that count and just didn’t do it,” Pierce told the ESPN+ broadcast crew. “A lot of game left. Pitching well, though. I like the way he’s pitching and attacking.”

Grubbs then gave up another home run in the third inning as Louisiana extended its lead to 2-0. Texas had opportunities as it started its second time through the batting order, but couldn’t get across the plate heading into the top of the fourth. That’s when the Longhorns finally broke through when Rylan Galvan drove in Kimble Schuessler to cut the deficit to 2-1.

Then, Texas jumped out in front for the first time in the game when Dee Kennedy knocked a two-run single through the left side to make it a 3-2 Longhorns lead.

The second time through the order was when Texas got the better of Louisiana starter David Christie, and Pierce laid out the approach before the third inning began. Christie ended up leaving the game after 3.2 innings, allowing three runs on seven hits before his departure.

“You’ve just got to be ready for the fastball and then adjust off of that,” he said. “I mean, he’s all around the plate and he’s got good stuff. Be ready for a pitch.”

The Longhorns entered the NCAA Tournament with a 35-22 overall record, including a 20-10 mark in Big 12 play in their final season before joining the SEC. They dropped both games in the Big 12 Tournament, but wound up in the Bryan-College Station regional along with Louisiana, Grambling State and host Texas A&M.

According to DraftKings, Texas has the second-best odds to win the Bryan-College Station Regional, trailing only Texas A&M.