Texas right fielder [tag]Kyle Russell[/tag] continued his incredible record setting season for the Horns by hitting for the cycle against UT-Pan American. And he did it in only seven innings as the game was called early to allow UT-Pan Am to get out of town before El Niño hit.
Russell started off the game with a two-run homer in the first. He then picked up the toughest component of the cycle by hitting a triple in the bottom of the fifth. He added a double in the sixth and completed the feat by singling in a run in the seventh. Russell commented on his cycle, “It’s the first cycle I’ve ever hit, to do it at home in front of the burnt orange nation is really special.” He also finished the game with a five RBIs.
If Russell can stay hot and runners can get on base in front of him, the Longhorns should be in great shape to make a run out another national title. Kevin Durant may be the best basketball player to ever play at Texas, but right now Kyle Russell is putting on an even more impressive performance. He’s well on his way to earning player of the year honors of his own.
reply to #1
PB @ BON
April 25th, 2007 at 12:38 pm
More impressive than Durant?
No way.
Russell is having a monster season, and though it’s a historic one at Texas, it isn’t even approaching what Durant did as a freshman.
reply to #2
Brian
April 25th, 2007 at 12:51 pm
Peter, I should have probably put a “might be” in that statement somewhere, but with all the baseball history at Texas it’s a greater feat to put up the best season in UT baseball history than it was in UT basketball. Russell has already blown past the single season home run record and they still have 9 games to go and the postseason.
The dude has a freaking 1.413 OPS this season, that’s incredible in that ballpark.
reply to #3
PB @ BON
April 25th, 2007 at 4:21 pm
Yeah, and I didn’t mean to disparage what Russell’s doing, which is absolutely disgusting.
The best part is that it’s like he’s getting BETTER as he goes; I sort of expected the pace to slow a bit. Amazing.
Of course, it helps that he’s hitting in the best Texas batting lineup since Augie’s arrived. Still… incredible.
reply to #4
Brian
April 25th, 2007 at 4:35 pm
I added a poll to the sidebar to let the people decide Peter. Despite the fact that I’m always right this is a democratic website, I’ll let them vote and then complain they’ve got no idea what they’re talking about.
reply to #5
PB @ BON
April 26th, 2007 at 9:47 am
Heh – nice.
I personally don’t think this one’s that close. Durant had one of the best basketball seasons by any player, ever. Russell is having an outstanding offensive season that will put him in the Texas record books but fall well short of anything that college baseball historians remember.
Remember: Pete Incaviglia hit 47 dingers for Oklahoma State in 1987
reply to #6
Andy
April 26th, 2007 at 10:23 am
Personally I think Durant going to be able to make an immediate positive impact for whichever team he ends up playing for in the NBA. Russell, on the other hand, even though he is obviously a tremendous talent, may have a little more difficultly trying to come into his own once he enters the majors…