Texas
Pitching and Pair of Three-Run Innings Push Tennessee Past Texas Tech For Season-Opening Win | Rocky Top Insider
ARLINGTON, TX – AJ Russell galloped off the mound to a large ovation by the sector of Tennessee fans in Globe Life Field before embracing his teammates in the dugout.
Russell’s second career start was a memorable one. His nearly flawless first four innings of work highlighted a big win for Tennessee to get their season started off on the right foot.
Tennessee baseball picked up a 6-2 win over No. 21 Texas Tech in Arlington on Friday night. In their first of three games in the Shriners Children’s College Showdown, the Vols used a three-run fourth and three-run eighth inning to best a ranked Red Raiders team in their home state.
Tennessee struck first in the fourth inning when Clemson transfer third baseman Billy Amick hit the Vols’ first home run of the season with a two-run shot to right field.
Tennessee later took a 3-0 lead in the fourth after Bradke Lohry reached on a throwing error by Texas Tech second baseman Tracer Lopez, allowing Kavares Tears to score from second.
The Vols’ three-run inning felt massive considering AJ Russell’s dominance on the mound.
Russell was nothing short of phenomenal in his first weekend start in a Tennessee uniform. The Franklin, Tennessee native was especially dominant early in the night, retiring 12 of his 13 batters and logging 10 strikeouts through four frames.
He eventually ran into trouble in the fifth, surrendering a leadoff walk and back-to-back singles to give Texas Tech a pair of runners in scoring position with no outs. If it weren’t for a base running blunder by the Red Raiders, Russell would’ve given up an RBI double before being pulled for AJ Causey.
Still, Russell’s first outing as the Friday night guy proved he deserves that role. The sophomore finished with 10 strikeouts and allowed three hits and two earned runs in 4.1 innings against 16 batters.
More From RTI: Watch Billy Amick Hit The First Home Run Of Tennessee Baseball’s 2024 Season
In a high leverage moment, Causey logged a strikeout but gave up a two-run triple afterwards. Texas Tech had plated two and cut the lead to one entering the final four innings.
The Vols wasted a big opportunity in the top of the sixth stranding the bases loaded, but Causey cruised the rest of the way on the mound to make what could’ve been a highly significant moment in the game anything but.
Causey retired the heart of Texas Tech’s lineup in order in the sixth before displaying his defensive skills in the seventh. After failing to execute what would’ve been an above average play to record the second out of the inning, Causey redeemed himself by snagging a hard-hit line drive from Red Raiders left-fielder Damian Bravo and tossing it to Burke for the double play.
Causey stared down Burke after the play, who then dapped up his pitcher before the two trotted back to the dugout.
Tennessee opened it up late by doubling their score in the eighth. Amick and Dylan Dreiling each worked a walk to leadoff the inning and Kavares Tears worked a one-out walk to load the bases.
Lohry brought Amick home with a sac fly before a wild pitch scored Dreiling. Hunter Ensley then drove the knife in with an RBI single into left field to score Tears and take a four-run lead.
Causey did not allow a baserunner in eighth or ninth inning, as Tennessee kept their four-run lead in the final stages to close it out.
Causey got his first career win in a Tennessee uniform and allowed just hits , allowing just two hits and striking out seven in 4.2 innings of work.
Russell and Causey proved to be a more than capable Friday night duo, and the offense did enough for the Vols to earn a big victory on opening night.
Texas
Texas Football Opt-Outs: Who’s Likely Playing and Who’s Out for the Citrus Bowl
At this point in time, opting out of bowl games is nothing new, but Texas is going to have more opt-outs in the Citrus Bowl against Michigan than many—self included—expected. This problem pales in comparison to what’s going on in Ann Arbor, but the amount of lost experience will be something for Texas to overcome, primarily on defense.
Texas
Latest in recruiting war for elite 2028 QB has Texas Football joyful
Neimann Lawrence list the Longhorns as one school that is standing out
As the Longhorns continue to build for the future, one of their targets is four-star prospect Neimann Lawrence. The Miami native is one of the best quarterbacks in the 2028 class and is attracting interest from some of the nation’s top programs. On Monday, Lawrence revealed the schools that have stood out so far, including the Longhorns.
While Mondays update was encouraging, Texas was not the only school Lawrence mentioned. He also highlighted Michigan, Miami, Ohio State, Texas A&M, and Tennessee. That is not an easy list of schools to go to battle with; the Longhorns have time to make themselves stand out.
Currently, the Miami Northwestern High star is ranked as the fourth-best quarterback in is class by 247Sports. They also rank him as the ninth-best player from Florida and the 39th-best player in the nation. With collegiate debut still over a year away, those rankings could change.
At the moment, the Longhorns do not have a commitment in the 2028 class, but they have made offers to some of the top recruits. That includes Brysen Wright, Jalanie George, Jamarios Canton, Micah Rhodes, and King Pitts. Landing any of those players would give Texas a bright future.
With a decision still months away, Lawrence will be a player to watch. A lot could change as his recruitment continues, but it is a good sign for Texas that they are standing out early on in the process.
Texas
Orange County wedding photographer deported on way to job in Texas
ORANGE COUNTY, Calif. – An Orange County photographer is speaking out after he was deported as he was heading to Texas to photograph a wedding.
What they’re saying:
“I was trying to do it the right way, the legal way and it just feels like they don’t care about that,” said Adan Caceres.
Caceres came to the United States under asylum in 2014, fleeing a violent El Salvador.
“My mom’s sister was murdered and she was thrown in front of our house. She also was abused sexually before they murdered her and then my brother and I were threatened by the gangs,” said Caceres.
He says he never received the deportation order that was issued in 2018 and only learned about it in 2023. He then started the process of reopening his case.
“I was paying my taxes. I’m a business owner, I’m a wedding photographer. I’m also married,” said Caceres.
In October, Caceres was going through security at John Wayne Airport, heading to a job in Texas, when he was detained. He says from Santa Ana, he was sent to the Adelanto Detention Center then one in El Paso, Texas where he says the conditions were inhumane.
“We’re not even asking ‘hey let us out’ we’re asking for water, we’re asking for us to be able to use the restroom, these are basic human rights,” said Caceres.
He says now that he’s back in the country he once fled, he’s most concerned about his wife back in Orange County.
“I was providing a lot of income for our household and now my wife has to take care of all of those things on her own; paying car insurance, the rent, all the bills,” said Caceres.
Caceres says he had no criminal history and feels he was on the path to citizenship when it was ripped away from him, leaving his future with his family uncertain.
“I don’t know if I’m going to see them. I don’t know when I’m going to see them,” said Caceres.
The other side:
FOX11 reached out to the Department of Homeland Security asking about Caceres’ case but had not heard back at the time this story aired.
The Source: Information for this story came from an interview with Adan Caceres.
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