BELYEU’S BIG DAY HELPS TEXAS COMPLETE WEEKEND SWEEP AND WIN LAS VEGAS CLASSIC
Game 1: Illinois vs Texas
The Texas Longhorns finished out their stellar weekend at the Las Vegas Classic with a dominant 15-6 victory over Illinois to capture the 2025 championship belt.
Longhorn’s outfielder and MLB Pipeline’s #15 draft prospect Max Belyeu was spraying the ball all over the outfield grass Sunday afternoon, totaling 4 hits including 3 doubles, 3 RBI’s, and 2 runs scored.
With extreme wind altering the conditions of the game, Belyeu and other Longhorn’s sluggers didn’t blink when they endured an early 6-1 deficit at the hands of the Illini.
Texas cut the Illinois lead to 1 run after a 4-run bottom of the 4th inning and the game would only snowball in the Longhorn’s favor from that point on.
Just two innings later, Texas would muster out 9 runs off 7 hits to put the game completely out of reach for the Illini.
Shortstop Jalin Flores smacked a pivotal 2-run double to right center to spark the big inning and finish out his amazing weekend at the plate.
Third baseman Casey Borba, who only had 5 at-bats on the season coming into Sunday’s finale, gave the Longhorns two hits from the bottom of the lineup including a 2-run single to effectively end Illinois’ chance to come back.
For the Illini, the offense rolled early thanks to a 3-run home run from Collin Jennings. That would be the last runs they scored on the day.
WASHINGTON OUTDUELS TEXAS TECH 12-8 IN SUNDAY NIGHT SLUGFEST
Game 2: Texas Tech vs. Washington
The Washington Huskies defeated the Texas Tech Red Raiders 12-8 to salvage their final game of the Las Vegas Classic in a back-and-forth intense ball game.
Huskie hitters dominated in this game, with center fielder Malakhi Knight lighting up the stat sheet with 3 hits, including a solo home run and two doubles.
“Was just trying to put together good at-bats for my team, and put some good swings on the ball to spark our guys,” says Knight.
The Huskies entered Sunday’s game losers of two straight 1-run games, but was able to channel that frustration into a complete effort Sunday evening.
“Our guys earned that one,” says Huskies head coach Eddie Smith. “It was really good to see the guys come back and play well after a few really close losses so I’m very proud of them for that.”
The Huskies led off with a first inning solo home run from catcher Colton Bower to left field. After four straight walks to tie the game for Texas Tech in the next half inning, Damian Bravo hammered a line drive into left field to give the Red Raiders a 3-1 lead.
That lead would be short lived for Texas Tech, as the Huskies would respond with 10 runs across the next 3 frames to take command of the game.
Third baseman Trevor Kole provided the Huskies with a 2-RBI triple and AJ Guerrero capped off an incredible tournament with a loud opposite field home run to give the Huskies back the lead that they never relinquished.
RHP Zane Petty started the game for the Red Raiders, and could only make it through 2.1 innings before getting pulled from the game. Petty allowed 5 runs off 4 hits, with two walks allowed and only striking out 2 Washington batters.
Antonelli Savatterre and Robin Villeneuve had impactful nights at the plate for Texas Tech, each with two hits and an RBI to go along with it.
Comments