Quick Hitters
NCAA Baseball Regional Roundup: Sam Houston St. in 1st super regional
Sam Houston State had made it to the NCAA baseball regional finals three times and lost each time.
On Monday, the Bearkats broke through.
Seeded third in the Lubbock Regional, Sam Houston State beat No. 5 national seed Texas Tech 4-3 for its second win in two days over the Red Raiders.
“We played this whole week like we were not afraid to lose,” catcher Robie Rojas said. “We knew no matter what we loved each other and we’ve had a great run. So when you play (without) the fear of ... crashing and burning, you’re going to do things like this.”
Also clinching regionals Monday were No. 3 national seed Florida, No. 6 TCU, Vanderbilt, Missouri State, Florida State and Texas A&M. No. 1 national seed Oregon State, No. 4 LSU and No. 7 Louisville wrapped up regionals Sunday along with Davidson and Wake Forest, and Cal State Fullerton won Saturday.
Sam Houston State is the second surprise team to move on in the NCAA Tournament, joining No. 4 regional seed Davidson, which knocked out No. 2 national seed North Carolina on Sunday.
Sam Houston State is in the national tournament for the 11th time, getting an automatic bid as Southland Conference Tournament champion.
SUPER REGIONALS Sites for the best-of-three super regionals starting Friday or Saturday will be announced Tuesday. National seeds are assured of playing at home.
Vanderbilt (3623-1) at No. 1 Oregon State (52-4); Wake Forest (42-18) at No. 3 Florida (45-17); Southern Mississippi or Mississippi State at No. 4 LSU (46-17); Missouri State (43-18) at No. 6 TCU (45-16); North Carolina State or Kentucky at No. 7 Louisville (50-10); Long Beach State or Texas vs. Cal State Fullerton (37-21); Sam Houston State (43-21) vs. Florida State (43-21); Davidson (35-24) vs. Texas A&M (39-21). HIS TIME TO SHINE Freshman two-way player Austin Langworthy starred with his arm and bat as host Florida beat BethuneCookman 6-1. He allowed one run and two singles in four innings of relief in his first pitching appearance since April 11. He started the game in left field, went 2 for 4 and hit a threerun homer to open the scoring in the sixth inning. It was his third homer of the season and first since March 3. TIMELY HOMER Texas A&M’s Baine Schoenvogel hit his second pinch-hit home run of the season in the top of the ninth inning, and it turned out to be the game-winner in a 4-3 victory over host Houston. MARVELOUS ON MOUND Will Zirzow led Florida State past Auburn 6-0 with the best outing of his career. The junior allowed two singles, hit a batter, walked none and struck out 11 in his first complete game. Used mostly as a reliever, Zirzow had never pitched more than five innings.