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Texas Longhorns infielder Adrian Rodriguez (24) celebrates tagging Alabama Crimson Tide infielder Brennan Holt (4) out at second base in the third inning of the second game in a three-game series against the Alabama Crimson Tide at UFCU Disch-Falk Field in Austin, April 18, 2026.<\/p>\n
Sara Diggins\/Austin American-Statesman<\/p>\n
OMAHA, Neb. \u2014 To avoid having its offseason start on Tuesday, the Texas baseball<\/a> team must win on Monday.<\/p>\n Texas (45-14) will face Alabama (42-20) in a College World Series elimination game Monday afternoon at Charles\u00a0Schwab Field. The Longhorns were bumped to the loser’s bracket at the College World Series by Saturday’s 7-1 loss to Georgia<\/a>. Meanwhile, Alabama was beaten by nine runs in its Omaha opener against Oklahoma.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n More: Subscribe to the Statesman’s Texas sports newsletter<\/a><\/p>\n After winning two of its three games against Alabama in Austin from April 17-19, Texas improved to 13-2 in its all-time series against the Crimson Tide. One of those wins took place in Omaha and secured the 1983 national championship for the Longhorns<\/a>.<\/p>\n Stay tuned for live updates.<\/p>\n During the seventh inning, it was announced that the official scorer had credited Adrian Rodriguez with a second-inning triple. It was originally scored as a single to left field with a two-base error.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Why was the scoring decision important? Because Rodriguez has now hit for the cycle. Rodriguez doubled in the first inning, singled in the fifth frame and homered in the sixth session.<\/p>\n Texas got some insurance in the sixth inning as Anthony Pack Jr. and Adrian Rodriguez both hit two-run homers.\u00a0Rodriguez is hitting .654 in the NCAA Tournament, and he has collected at least two hits in each of UT’s tournament games. According to Texas, Pack also became the first UT freshman to homer in Omaha since 2002.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Two other notes for Texas? Aftter showing signs of pain during a fourth-inning at-bat, Texas designated hitter\u00a0Ethan Mendoza was replaced by a pinch-runner after collecting his third hit in the sixth inning. Up by nine runs, Texas will also end starting pitcher Ruger Riojas’ afternoon and send freshman Brody Walls into the game.<\/p>\n In what may be the final appearance of his college career, senior Ruger Riojas has gotten Texas through the top of the sixth inning. Riojas has allowed six hits and two runs. With his 105th pitch of the afternoon, Riojas recorded his seventh strikeout.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Texas was held scoreless during the fourth frame, but that may be the least of the Longhorns’ concerns. On an inning-ending groundout, UT designated hitter Ethan Mendoza appeared to re-injure his right shoulder. Mendoza has been dealing with his shoulder since May, and he was pulled from Saturday’s game against Georgia after an eighth-inning swing.<\/p>\n Mendoza has driven in two runs this afternoon. Since he is the Longhorns’ designated hitter, his status won’t be known until his spot in the Texas lineup comes back up.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n During the top of the fourth inning, Alabama cut into the Texas lead with a 414-foot blast to right field off the bat of John Lemm. The Crimson Tide singled twice more in the frame, but Ruger Riojas’ fifth\u00a0strikeout of the afternoon ended the threat.<\/p>\n Through four innings,\u00a0Riojas has thrown 81 pitches. During his last start against Oregon on June 7<\/a>, Riojas lasted for 111 pitches and 5 \u2154 innings.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n For the first time this afternoon, Texas was retired in order during the third inning. So far, Texas has produced seven hits while Carson Tinney has drawn two of the team’s three walks.<\/p>\n With two outs in the second inning, Texas came through with a few big hits. Anthony Pack Jr.’s single to left field brought home a run, and Ethan\u00a0Mendoza’s single led to Carson Tinney scoring from second base on a close play at the plate. Texas later scored twice on a play that featured an Adrian Rodriguez single and a two-base error by Alabama outfielder Eric Hines.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n This afternoon, Mendoza is 2-for-2 with two RBIs. The designated hitter left UT’s game against Georgia on Saturday with a shoulder injury<\/a>.<\/p>\n After\u00a0Ruger Riojas walked the first two batters of the second inning, the Crimson Tide made him pay. Luke Vaughn’s two-out singles got Alabama on the scoreboard for the first time this afternoon.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n During the first inning, Texas got two nice defensive plays from first baseman Ashton Larson. The junior caught a line drive and turned a double play for the frame’s first two outs, and he later scooped up a throw from shortstop Adrian Rodriguez to end the inning.<\/p>\n After three of the first five batters in the Texas lineup doubled, the Longhorns have seized an early lead in Omaha. Aiden Robbins led off UT’s half of the first inning with one of those doubles, and that paved the way for an inning that featured an RBI double from Ethan Mendoza<\/a> and Adrian Rodriguez’s two-run double.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Alabama starting pitcher Zane Adams pitched six innings of shutout baseball in Austin on April 18, but he allowed three hits and a walk in Monday’s first inning. Alabama ended the first inning with reliever Matthew Heiberger warming up in the bullpen.<\/p>\n Texas used a shift throughout much of the first inning, but those defensive adjustments weren’t tested. Alabama’s Justin Lebron singled and stole his SEC-leading 42nd base of the season, but Ruger Riojas struck out three batters to retire the Crimson Tide. Back in April, Riojas struck out 11 batters over his five-inning start.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Where: Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Neb.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Texas Longhorns catcher Carson Tinney (8) celebrates a home run during game two of the NCAA Baseball Super Regional against Oregon at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Sunday, June 7, 2026 in Austin.<\/p>\n Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n CF Bryce Fowler<\/p>\n
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\nRF Aiden Robbins
\nC Carson Tinney<\/a>
\nLF Anthony Pack Jr.
\nDH Ethan Mendoza
\nSS Adrian Rodriguez
\n2B Temo Becerra
\n1B Ashton Larson
\n3B Casey Borba
\nCF Dariyan Pendergrass<\/a><\/p>\n
\nSS Justin Lebron<\/a>
\nC Brady Neal
\n3B Jason Torres
\nDH John Lemm
\nLF Eric Hines
\n2B Brennan Holt
\n1B Luke Vaughn
\nRF Peyton Steele<\/p>\n