OTF Premium Texas rallies for a 6-5 win over Oregon, punches ticket to the College World Series for the 39th time

[Jeff Howe]

AUSTIN, Texas — Timely hitting was the difference for Texas in Sunday’s 6-5 win over Oregon, which clinched a two-game sweep of the Austin Super Regional and secured the program’s NCAA-record 39th all-time trip to the College World Series.

Will Sanford battled to keep the Ducks in the game through 3.2 innings and when Tanner Bradley’s 3.1-inning, 65-pitch scoreless gem out of the bullpen (one hit, one walk, two hit batters and five strikeouts) ended, the Longhorns’ 4-0 lead after the top of the second was gone. Facing a 5-4 deficit entering the eighth inning, Texas (45-13) loaded the bases with two outs after Oregon (43-18) closer Devin Bell walked Carson Tinney, hit Anthony Pack Jr. in the foot with a 1-1 pitch and saw Temo Becerra reach base on an infield single.

That’s when the Longhorns got the timely hit they needed to take back the lead for good.

In a 3-1 count, Adrian Rodriguez (2-for-5) slashed a two-run double down the left-field line and into the corner. Rodriguez’s team-leading 11th hit of the NCAA Tournament got by the outstretched glove of third baseman Drew Smith and brought Tinney and Pack home for the tying and go-ahead runs, respectively.

In its two wins over the Ducks, Texas went 7-for-23 at the plate with two outs and 6-for-18 with runners in scoring position. Oregon, on the other hand, was 2-for-24 in the Austin Super Regional with runners in scoring position, stranding 24 runners and striking out 28 times.

The eighth-inning decisive blow by Rodriguez, who went 2-for-3 with five RBI and one run scored in Saturday’s 11-3 victory over the Ducks, was the only bases-loaded hit of the Austin Super Regional (the Longhorns were 1-for-5 and Oregon was 0-for-6 with the bases juiced).

With the lead, Sam Cozart retired each of the nine Oregon batters he faced, striking out four en route to his ninth save of the season. The Longhorns got 5.2 gutsy innings from Ruger Riojas (six hits, four earned runs, one hit batter, four walks and seven strikeouts) before turning it over to the bullpen, which needed Thomas Burns to toe the rubber in the bottom of the seventh for three consecutive outs (including two strikeouts) after the go-ahead run reached third base with no outs against Brody Walls.

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[DiggsTX]

OMAHORNS!!!! 🤘

[akhookem]

That Cozart close looked similar to a Volantis close from last year, Oregon had no shot

[Jeff Howe]

We're starting the press conference.

Oregon coach Mark Wasikowski said Texas earned the win tonight.

"At this point, we're Texas Longhorn fans because we want them to win it," he said.

[Jeff Howe]

Wasikowski said Oregon is, by and large, not a big transfer portal baseball program. That's why Wasikowski said his team is so emotional right now.

[Jeff Howe]

Wasikowski has a lot of praise for Texas.

[Jeff Howe]

Wasikowski said Texas didn't do anything drastically different compared to other pitchers Oregon faced.

"They just have tremendous arms," he said. 

[Jeff Howe]

"The fight in our team is evident," Wasikowski said.

[Jeff Howe]

Drew Smith, who played a helluva Super Regional for Oregon: "These have probably been the best four years of my life."

[Jeff Howe]

"Play really good baseball," Wasikowski said when asked what it'll take for someone to beat Texas in Omaha.

[Jeff Howe]

"I don't know how many Major Leaguers they have in that lineup, but that's a ridiculous lineup," Wasikowski said of Texas.

[Jeff Howe]

"You'd probably be wise to credit the Texas offense for what they did," Wasikowski said when asked about the struggles the Oregon pitchers had. "That's an elite offense."

[Jeff Howe]

Wasikowski said they went to Bell instead of Twist because of how good Pack has been against lefties this season. Bell is also better against lefties than righties, so Wasikowski felt it was the right move.

[Jeff Howe]

"96 with a really hard slider and a breaking ball to go with it," Wasikowski said on what made Cozart tough to face. "Those guys could pitch in the big leagues tonight."

[Jeff Howe]

"To beat Texas, you're going to have to beat a lot of Major Leaguers," Wasikowski said.

[Jeff Howe]

That's it for Oregon.

We're getting Schloss, A-Rod and Cozart.

[MikeH]

Volantis and Cozart have REALLY spoiled us when it comes to freshman pitchers these last two years. Insane how good both those guys were immediately. Can’t wait to see what we can do in Omaha!

[Jeff Howe]

Schloss opens his portion of the press conference by recognizing Scott Wilson and Augie Garrido. Those are the first two people he thought of when the game ended.

[Jeff Howe]

Schloss: "You see these Super Regionals — it's never over until the absolute last pitch."

[CJ Vogel]

What a game. That was awesome. 

[Jeff Howe]

Schloss said he would've brought Cozart into the game if the game had been tied.

"We have supreme confidence in Sam," he said.

[Jeff Howe]

Cozart said he didn't look at tonight like he was bouncing back from the regional. He said he doesn't even remember his last outing.

[Jeff Howe]

Schloss said he had to be mindful of what Texas would do tomorrow if it had to play a game. Still, he never lost confidence that his team would come through.

[HDub1995]

Cozart oozes psychotic energy. I’m here for it. 

[Jeff Howe]

"Ruger was outstanding," Schloss said.