Casey Borba made two big changes this past summer: he cut back on baseball, and he cut out Chick-fil-A. It turns out that was exactly the recipe for a breakout performance.

On Thursday, the Texas infielder delivered a game-changing two-run homer and racked up four defensive assists at third base, helping the Longhorns to a 6-3 win over Missouri. The victory pushed Texas to 38-12 overall and 17-10 in SEC play, good for sole possession of second place in the conference standings.

After the game, Borba revealed that his summer transformation wasn't just about extra reps. He ditched late-night Chick-fil-A runs and focused on his body instead of playing summer league ball. While his teammate pitcher Dylan Volantis joked about treating the infielders to Chick-fil-A as a thank-you for their defensive work, Borba will likely have to pass—old habits die hard, but new ones are paying off.

The timing couldn't have been better. With second baseman Ethan Mendoza sidelined by a shoulder injury, Texas shuffled its infield, moving Borba from his usual spot at first base back to third, where he started last season. He'd already filled in there briefly last month, so the position wasn't unfamiliar. But according to head coach Jim Schlossnagle, Borba's standout performance Thursday was rooted in his off-season dedication.

"So many players today don't spend time on their body," Schlossnagle said. "We felt like last summer ... he needed to spend a summer on his body, try to move a little better, be a little lighter. He did that out in California, and did a great job. You see that in how he plays both first and third base."

Instead of joining a summer league team like he did after his freshman year, Borba went home to California and committed to six-day-a-week workouts focusing on strength training and speed drills. The result? A leaner, quicker infielder who's now making plays all over the diamond—and maybe earning himself a waffle fry or two as a reward.