OTF Premium Texas dominates Alabama to stay alive at the College World Series

[Jeff Howe]

With its season on the line in an elimination game at the College World Series, Texas rode an offensive explosion to a 14-2 rout of Alabama at Charles Schwab Field on Monday to stay alive in Omaha.

The Longhorns throttled the Crimson Tide to the tune of 13 hits, seven of which went for extra bases. Adrian Rodriguez had a historic 5-for-5 afternoon, becoming the third player in the 79-year history of the College World Series to hit for the cycle with a two-run double in the first inning, a two-run triple in the second, a single in the fifth and a two-run home run to right field in the bottom of the sixth.

With the win, Texas (46-14) advances to another elimination game on Tuesday (6 p.m., ESPN) against the loser of Monday’s winner’s bracket game between Georgia and Oklahoma. The Longhorns avoided a winless stay in Omaha by pouncing on Alabama's (42-21) left-handed starting pitcher Zane Adams, roughing him up for seven earned runs on seven hits in 1.2 innings.

Adams, who worked six scoreless innings against Texas at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on April 18, opened his 63-pitch outing by giving up a double to Aiden Robbins (1-for-4 with three runs scored) and walking Carson Tinney (0-for-1, four walks and two runs scored). After back-to-back doubles by Ethan Mendoza (3-for-4, two RBI and two runs scored) and Rodriguez, Texas had control of the game with a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first and never looked back.

Anthony Pack Jr. (3-for-5, four RBI, a two-run home run and three runs scored), Mendoza and Rodriguez shoveled more dirt on Alabama with three consecutive run-scoring hits in a four-run second. With a 7-1 lead when he took the mound for the third inning, Ruger Riojas settled in and kept the Crimson Tide bats at bay, recording a quality start with two earned runs allowed in six innings.

Striking out 11 in five innings in a win over Alabama earlier this season, Riojas scattered six hits, walked two and struck out seven. Riojas threw 105 pitches before giving way to the bullpen, with Brody Walls, Ethan Walker and Cody Howard combining for three scoreless innings to end the game.

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[CJ Vogel]

Join us tomorrow! I will work on my Take Me Out to the Ballgame rendition in the mean time.

[Jeff Howe]

The press conference is starting. Schloss is joined by Ruger Riojas and Adrian Rodriguez.

[Jeff Howe]

Ethan Mendoza is also at the press conference.

[Jeff Howe]

Schloss starts his opening statement by congratulating Alabama on its season.

On the win, he thought Ruger Riojas did a good job, the Longhorns got some bounces their way and A-Rod "was awesome," he said.

[Jeff Howe]

On his NCAA Tournament success, A-Rod said he made some swing changes with Tulo, starting with the Tennessee series.

[Jeff Howe]

A-Rod said he didn't know he hit for the cycle until Ruger told him that they took the error off the scoreboard.

[Jeff Howe]

On the adversity he's faced, A-Rod said: "It's been up and down throughout the season."

He thanks his teammates and coaches for having his back through his struggles.

[Jeff Howe]

On his home run, A-Rod said he was sitting on a fastball. The 3-2 pitch is exactly what he was looking for and he got the head of the bat on it.

[Jeff Howe]

A-Rod doesn't think he's hit for the cycle before in his career.

"Unless it's T-ball where they let you run the bases with no defense," he said.

[Jeff Howe]

Doza said the conversations heading into today were about not making it bigger than it needed to be.

[Jeff Howe]

Ruger said everybody tried to lock in and be in the moment the whole way.

[Jeff Howe]

Ruger said, "it was awesome" that Brody Walls got the job done out of the bullpen.

"It didn't surprise me who we went to next," he said.

[Jeff Howe]

Doza said he's "having a blast," even with the shoulder issue.

[Jeff Howe]

Schloss on Ruger's performance and what he's meant to the team: "You can't coach birthdays. A lot of the older teams are the ones that are successful."

[Jeff Howe]

"Not that I'd tell you if he did," Schloss said when asked about Zane Adams tipping pitches.

"Sometimes, it's better to be lucky than good," he said. "Today was our day."

[Jeff Howe]

Schloss felt A-Rod's triple was a triple all the way.

[Jeff Howe]

Schloss on Doza, Ruger and A-Rod embodying the spirit of the team: "The common theme among those three guys is that they wanted to be at Texas. They wanted to be a Texas Longhorn."

[Jeff Howe]

Schloss on his team's celebrations after hits and big moments: "A part of college baseball is enthusiasm. As long as it's not directed at the other team, that's cool."

[Jeff Howe]

Schloss: "Anybody that plays this deep into a season... Most teams, by now, you're pretty banged up. Everybody's dealing with something."

[Jeff Howe]

One of Texas' mottos, Schloss said, is that "if you have to feel good to play good, you probably shouldn't show up."

He loves the grit of this team.

[Jeff Howe]

Schloss said not having to use Luke Harrison, Sam Cozart or Brett Crossland today was a huge positive for the Longhorns going into another elimination game tomorrow.

[Jeff Howe]

That's it for the press conference.

Texas lives to fight another day in Omaha.

[Alex Butler]

A$$whoopin. Now, who do we want to win tonight? I’m kinda rooting for Skip even though it feels icky and gross 🤢 I’d love to have a chance to knock UGA out. 

[Mark Futrell]

31 minutes ago, CJ Vogel said:

Join us tomorrow! I will work on my Take Me Out to the Ballgame rendition in the mean time.

Matthew, can you assist him with his full screen view? Ha!