June 23, 2009

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Jungmann, Clark Help Texas Force Game 3 against LSU

Winner-take-all between Longhorns and Tigers on Wednesday

By Phil Stanton

CollegeBaseballInsider.com Co-Founder
 

OMAHA, Neb. – It comes down to one game for the national title.

Freshman Taylor Jungmann (left) pitched his first complete game, and senior Preston Clark went 3 for 4 with a homer and two RBI as Texas topped LSU 5-1 at the College World Series in front of 21,871 fans at Rosenblatt Stadium to even the championship series at one game apiece.

The top-seeded Longhorns (50-15-1) and the third-seeded Tigers (55-17) will play a third and final game on Wednesday at 6 p.m. CT to decide the national championship.

“It would have been nice to win tonight and wrap it up,” LSU head coach Paul Mainieri said, “but the kid that pitched for them had something say about us having to stay around one more day. He was outstanding. We just couldn’t do much with him.”

Jungmann (11-3) allowed five hits and one unearned run with two walks and nine strikeouts.

“I stayed back, and I had a really good feel for the ball today,” Jungmann said. “[Catcher Cameron] Rupp mixed the pitches in really well, too. I pounded the zone, throwing strikes, going right at hitters.”

The game was delayed one hour and 34 minutes by rain. The temperature dropped from 96 degrees to 82 degrees at game time.

“First, there was the rain,” Texas head coach Augie Garrido said, “and it played a part in this. I think it played an important part in it. It took the temperature way down. It took a lot of the humidity out of it. I think it helped Taylor in many ways. When we first got to the ballpark it was steaming. It helped him finish the game.”

Jungmann threw 126 pitches.

“He changed speeds well,” said LSU junior Jared Mitchell, “kept his pitches down in the zone. He had a lot of movement low in the zone. He stayed in the zone and made it tough for us.”

Texas got on the board right away in the top of the first. Senior Michael Torres drew a leadoff walk on four pitches and went to second on an errant throw to first by the catcher, the initial error in the CWS for LSU. Senior Travis Tucker sacrificed Torres to third. With the infield in, junior Brandon Belt lined a single to right to plate Torres with the game’s first run.

The Longhorns added to their lead in the second as Clark went deep, his third, to push the lead to 2-0.

“I felt great,” Clark said. “I have been trying too hard in the series. I was just trying to put the ball in play today and work up the middle. Good things happen when you do that.”

LSU cut the lead in half in the bottom of the second. With two outs, Mitchell (right) singled to left, moved to second on an infield base hit and scored on an error to make it 2-1.

Texas tacked on three in the third. Junior Russell Moldenhauer homered for the fourth time in the CWS to make it 3-1. Sophomore Cameron Rupp doubled and scored on a two-base hit by sophomore Connor Rowe. Clark’s base hit to left brought home Rowe to raise the score to 5-1.

“He was brilliant in his performance,” Garrido said of Jungmann. “His teammates got him an early lead. It’s been my feeling throughout the years that the best thing for a pitcher’s curveball is a four-run lead.”

LSU got the lead runner on in the third, fourth, sixth and ninth, but failed to score. Sophomore DJ LeMahieu started the third with a triple, but was stranded there. Mitchell drew a leadoff walk in the fourth, but a fielder’s choice and a double play ended the frame. Blake Dean reached on an infield single to start the sixth and advanced to second on an error. Sophomore Micah Gibbs flew out to center and Dean went to third. Texas appealed and Dean was called out for leaving second too early. Freshman Mikie Mahtook struck out to end the frame. Gibbs had a leadoff single in the ninth, but was stranded at third as the game ended.

Tiger starter Austin Ross (6-8) took the loss, going two innings with four hits, two earned runs, one walk and no strikeouts.

Belt and Rupp both finished with two hits for the Longhorns. No player had multiple hits for the Tigers.

(photos courtesy of LSU & Texas Media Relations Offices)