Omaha, Somewhere in Middle America

The Longhorns road to Omaha and the College World Series was nothing short of epic; NCAA records broken, and college legends made. Taking down the TCU Horned Frogs with a 5-2 win in the decisive third game of the Austin Super Regional playoffs, UT (46-14-1) advances to the CWS for a record setting 33rd appearance, but first since 2005.

Following the No. 1 seeded Longhorn’s 25 inning marathon victory over Boston College on Saturday, May 30, - the longest game in NCAA Division I history - all eyes seemed to be on the Austin-hosted bracket of the NCAA playoffs. That win carried UT into the Regional Championship, largely on the arm of reliever Austin Wood, who pitched an astonishing 13 innings, 12 1/3 of which were recorded as no-hit ball, before Travis Tucker singled in Connor Rowe for the winning 3-2 run. The Regional showdown against Army the following day proved no less dramatic as Preston Clarke drilled a walk-off grand slam to propel the Longhorns to a 14-10 victory and berth to the Super Regional best-of-three series this past weekend against TCU, who were making their first ever appearance in the bracket.

UT took the first game of the Super Regionals easily with 10-4 win on Saturday. Though Michael Torres bolstered the Longhorns by going 4-5 at the plate with two home runs and 4 RBIs, it was classic Augie small ball that won the game, the team registering another NCAA record with seven sacrifice bunts. Chance Ruffin also turned in his third complete game of the season as he struck out seven to raise his record to 10-2. The Horned Frogs refused to go without a fight, however, holding off the Longhorns in game two for a 3-2 win.

Pushed to a final Game 3, and the only NCAA Super Regional game to be decided, the field was set for more drama on the diamond, but the tide rolled easily toward UT the entire game. Brandon Belt lifted the Horns to a quick lead with an RBI triple in the first, and scored himself on Russell Moldenhauer’s ground out. Kevin Keyes capped the quick start with a solo shot over the left field wall to jump-start UT to a 3-0 lead.

With freshman Taylor Jungmann allowing only two hits in his six innings on the mound, Texas added two more runs in fourth to go up 5-0. Wood took over in relief in the bottom of the seventh, but eventually ceded the ball to Ruffin as TCU attempted a ninth-inning rally. Ruffin retired the final two Horned Frogs to secure the 5-2 victory and notch his second save of the season.

The Longhorns now head to Omaha for the opening double elimination bracket of the CWS that includes Southern Mississippi, North Carolina, and Arizona State. UT faces their first matchup against the Cinderella Southern Miss. Golden Eagles (40-24), rookies to the CWS, on Sunday, June 14 at 6pm CST.