Gordon, Texas defeat Louisiana
Lucas Gordon pitched a gem and the outfield put on a show as No. 2 Texas opened the NCAA baseball tournament with a 4-2 win over No. 3 seed Louisiana in a weatherdelayed game in the Coral Gables Regional.
Gordon (7-1) kept the Ragin’ Cajuns’ offense muzzled with a vexing blend of low-90s fastballs and devilish changeups. And when needed, the Longhorns had the lefty’s back.
In the top of the fourth, fifth-year senior centerfielder Eric Kennedy ranged back to the wall and hopped up just in time to glove what would have been a three-run home run by second baseman John Taylor. Two innings later, right fielder Dylan Campbell fully extended for a catch that robbed Louisiana of at least a double.
Nick Moyle In other regional games Friday:
Texas Tech starter Mason Molina (6-2) struck out 10 in six innings and the Red Raiders took down Uconn 3-2 at Gainesville, Fla.
No. 3 seed Texas Tech (40-21), in its seventh consecutive postseason bid, moves on to the winner’s bracket on Saturday. Molina (6-2) allowed just one hit and two earned runs, and Josh Sanders picked up his first save of the season.
Riley Bertram hit a two-run double in the bottom of the fifth inning to give Clemson the lead and Billy Amick put the game out of reach with a grand slam home run in the eighth as the Tigers posted a 12-5 win over Lipscomb in the Clemson Regional.
Michael Snyder and Johnny Tincher hit home runs in a sevenrun fifth inning and third-seeded Washington defeated No. 2 seed
Dallas Baptist 9-5 in the opening game of the Stillwater Regional.
Devin Burkes homered, Emilien Pitre hit a two-run single in the eighth inning and No. 12 overall seed Kentucky beat Ball State 4-0 in the Lexington Regional. It was Kentucky’s first shutout in an NCAA Tournament game since a 2-0 win over Mississippi State in 1949.
MJ Metz blasted three home runs and drove in five runs to power Duke to a 12-3 win over Unc-wilmington in a first-round game in the Conway, S.C., regional.
Ethan Anderson hit a two-run homer and top-seeded Virginia combined for 10 runs in the first two innings en route to a 15-1 victory over Army in the Charlottesville Regional.