COLLEGE STATION — For the Texas Longhorns, the 2024 baseball season ended with a 10-2 loss to Louisiana at Blue Bell Park on Sunday afternoon.
A seven-run eighth inning was the defining blow in a defeat that eliminated UT from the loser’s bracket of the College Station regional. Texas ends the eighth season of the David Pierce era with a 36-24 record. Texas was attempting to reach a super regional in the NCAA tournament for the fourth straight year.
Meanwhile, Louisiana (42-19) .
Here is a recap of what happened as Texas closed out its 129th baseball season:
End 9: Louisiana 10, Texas 2
Facing Louisiana reliever Matthew Holzhammer and his 4.97 ERA, Texas emptied its bench by using Oliver Service and Jayden Duplantier as pinch hitters and loaded the bases with no outs. But Holzhammer struck out two UT starters before Rylan Galvan flied out to left field to end the Longhorns' season.
In defeat, Texas left 14 runners on base.
Mid 9: Louisiana 10, Texas 2
Louisiana has now scored 10 two-out runs today after Jose Torres' RBI single provided the Ragin' Cajuns with additional insurance. Jalin Flores, Kimble Schuessler and Max Belyeu are due up for Texas in the bottom of the ninth inning.
End 8: Louisiana 10, Texas 2
Texas got a run back on Rylan Galvan's RBI single in the eighth inning, but the Longhorns still face an uphill battle as they attempt to extend their season. To end the eighth inning, Tommy Farmer IV struck out with the bases loaded.
This season, UT is 3-18 when it trails after eight innings.
Mid 8: Louisiana 9, Texas 1
Louisiana has again struck with two outs, and this outburst has blown the game open. In the eighth inning, John Taylor's single into left field drove in one run with two outs and Jose Torres and Bryan Broussard then hammered three-run homers off Texas relievers Charlie Hurley and Chase Lummus.
All of Louisiana's runs today have been scored with two outs.
End 7: Louisiana 2, Texas 1
Unable to solve Louisiana's LP Langevin in the seventh inning, Texas is down to its last six outs in College Station. The Longhorns will also finish out this game without one of its best players. To open the eighth inning, leadoff hitter Jared Thomas was replaced in left field by freshman Tommy Farmer IV.
No reason has been given yet for Thomas' departure from the game. Farmer last appeared in a game on April 30.
Mid 7: Louisiana 2, Texas 1
Junior Ace Whitehead's afternoon ended with two outs in the seventh inning. Over 94 pitches and 6 2/3 innings, Whitehead allowed seven hits and two earned runs. He struck out six Ragin' Cajuns and issued one walk.
Charlie Hurley, who is the No. 4 starter in the Texas rotation, is now pitching in relief.
End 6: Louisiana 2, Texas 1
After a solid start from starter Chase Morgan, Louisiana has called LP Langevin out of the bullpen. The hard-throwing Langevin was named the Sun Belt pitcher of the year in 2024. A freshman, Morgan allowed seven hits and one run over 5 1/3 innings against a Texas team that was hitting .288 and scoring 7.2 runs per game.
Texas had a chance to tie this contest in the sixth inning, but Dee Kennedy struck out with teammate Casey Borba on third base. Borba was the third Longhorn stranded at third base today.
End 5: Louisiana 2, Texas 1
The Big 12 Player of the Year, Texas outfielder Max Belyeu has struggled to get going offensively this weekend in College Station. After his inning-ending groundout to second base stranded two Longhorns, Belyeu is 1-for-14 over UT's three regional games. He's left three teammates on base this afternoon.
End 4: Louisiana 2, Texas 1
Louisiana left-hander Chase Morgan allowed a two-out single to Rylan Galvan but that was all that UT could muster offensively in the bottom of the fourth inning. Texas has recorded at least one hit in three of today's four frames. Both teams have five hits this afternoon.
In the top of the fourth inning, Texas recorded two nice defensive plays. After diving to field a bunt, UT pitcher Ace Whitehead got to his knees and successfully threw the baseball to first base in time to get the inning's first out. Catcher Kimble Schuessler, who hasn't played the position in a game since last month, also ended the inning by throwing out a Louisiana runner who was attempting to steal second base.
End 3: Louisiana 2, Texas 1
Louisiana had reclaimed the lead in College Station on a two-out single by Lee Amedee in the third inning. Both of Louisiana's runs today have been scored with two outs.
In the bottom of the third inning, Texas was retired in order. Max Belyeu ended the frame with a long flyout to the warning track in left field.
End 2: Louisiana 1, Texas 1
Texas has tied the game on Will Gasparino's RBI single, but an inning-ending double play has again wasted a scoring opportunity for the Longhorns. After tying the game, UT loaded the bases with one out before a Jared Thomas grounder left two of his teammates in scoring position.
A double play also stranded a Texas runner on third base in the first inning.
Mid 2: Louisiana 1, Texas 0
A two-out single by Duncan Pastore has plated the first run. After Ace Whitehead retired Louisiana in order in the first inning, the Ragin' Cajuns collected three hits during a second session that featured a mound visit from head coach David Pierce.
Despite Louisiana striking first, Whitehead was able to limit the damage. Whitehead struck out Luke Yuhasz to strand two runners in scoring position.
End 1: Louisiana 0, Texas 0
Texas spoiled a chance to strike first as Max Belyeu, the UT cleanup hitter and Big 12 player of the year, grounded into a double play to end the opening inning. That play stranded a runner on third base.
In the top of the first inning, Ace Whitehead retired the three Louisiana batters he faced. Whitehead recorded two strikeouts in the frame.
Texas turns to Ace Whitehead in Louisiana rematch
With the Texas season on the line, left-handed pitcher Ace Whitehead (4-1, 4.33) will start against Louisiana. He will be opposed by Louisiana left-hander Chase Morgan (4-3, 3.29).
Texas will also mix up its lineup against the Ragin' Cajuns. Kimble Schuessler will move up in the batting order and catch for the first time since April 30. Freshman Casey Borba will make his NCAA tournament debut and play first base, which shifts Jared Thomas into left field. Rylan Galvan will serve as the designated hitter after starting at catcher in each of UT's last 15 games.
Texas is two days removed from recording a 12-5 win over Louisiana in its tournament opener on Friday. Louisiana, though, remained in the College Station regional on Saturday with a 12-5 victory of its own against Grambling. Texas will be the designated home team for this rematch.
