Big night for Texas, as Red Raiders, Longhorns in CWS
Florida, Arkansas also advance
AUSTIN, Texas — Relying on strong pitching and sufficient hitting, Texas advanced to the College World Series.
Kody Clemens and DJ Petrinsky hit home runs, Matteo Bocchi was effective in a rare appearance as a starting pitcher, and Texas defeated Tennessee Tech 5-2 on Monday to secure one of eight spots in the CWS.
Texas (42-21), under secondyear coach David Pierce, returns to the CWS for the first time since 2014.
“It feels awesome,” Pierce said. “We’re not always. A lot of times we’re ugly. But we just figure out how to keep playing. That’s what so special about this group.”
Texas took the super regional series by winning the last two games after losing the first on Saturday.
Clemens hit his 24th home run of the season — one less than the national leader Spencer Torkelson of Arizona State. Clemens has 11 home runs in his last 15 games.
The matchup of starting pitchers seemed to favor Tennessee Tech.
But left-hander Alex Hursey (8-5), the No. 3 starter for Tech (53-12), lasted just three innings, allowing four runs.
Pierce used his No. 3 starter, Blair Henley, in relief on Sunday. So Bocchi (4-1) made only his fourth start of the season and allowed one run in a season-high five innings.
Nolan Kingham, the Game 1 starter on Saturday and the sixth pitcher for Texas on Monday, came on in the ninth, walking one to load the bases but inducing Brennon Kaleiwahea to ground out and end the game. Parker Joe Robinson pitched 2⅔ innings of scoreless relief for Texas. TEXAS TECH 6, DUKE 2: In Lubbock, Texas, Gabe Holt,
Michael Davis and Brian Klein all homered for Texas Tech, which is going to the College World Series for the third time in five seasons after beating Duke on Monday.
The Red Raiders (44-18) went ahead to stay when Davis hit a two-run homer in the fourth to break a 1-1 tie in the deciding game of the best-of-three NCAA super regional.
It was the 12th homer of the season for the senior shortstop, the only current position player who started a game during their last trip to Omaha two years ago. FLORIDA 3, AUBURN 2 (11): In Gainesville, Fla., Austin Langworthy’s home run off Steven Williams’ glove in the 11th inning gave overall top seed Florida a victory against Auburn in the deciding game of their NCAA super regional Monday night, sending the defending national champion Gators to the College World Series for the fourth consecutive year.
Langworthy lined a pitch off freshman All-American closer Cody Greenhill (6-3) to the wall. Williams had a bead on it, but it bounced off his glove and over the fence. It was Langworthy’s fourth homer of the season and second in the best-of-three series.
Williams dropped to the ground in disbelief as Florida players rushed the field and waited for Langworthy to touch home plate before mobbing him. ARKANSAS 14, SOUTH CAROLINA 4: In Fayetteville, Ark., Carson Shaddy hit a three-run homer in a five-run first inning, and the Razorbacks reached the CWS for the first time since 2015 with a win over South Carolina.
Arkansas beat up on South Carolina pitching, converting 11 hits and six walks into its highest run total since hanging 17 on Florida on March 24. Eric Cole went 3 for 3 with a homer and double.