Texas stays alive with 4-3 win over St. John's

[KFDM COOP]

Texas stays alive with 4-3 win over St. John's

It sounded like false bravado when Texas right fielder Kyle Russell proclaimed that the Longhorns were in an enviable position following their setback to St. John’s on Friday.

Two days later the Horns are alive and kicking, thanks in no small measure to Russell.

After smacking a pair of home runs Saturday against Sam Houston State, Russell blasted a two-run dinger against the Red Storm to lift UT to a 4-3 win in the Houston Regional at Reckling Park. The No. 2 seed Horns (39-21) will face top-seeded Rice (44-13) tonight.

With the Horns leading 2-1 in the seventh inning, Russell cranked a two-out, two-strike pitch off the scoreboard in right field, victimizing Red Storm reliever Jared Yecker with his 18th homer this season. Russell also claimed sole possession of first place in the Texas record book with his 56th career homer, bypassing Jeff Ontiveros (1999-2002).

The Horns erased a 1-0 deficit with their two-run sixth inning off St. John’s starter Matt Tosoni (6-2). Brandon Belt tied the game with his RBI double to right, scoring Russell, before David Hernandez tacked on a run-scoring single to left that scored Preston Clark.

UT lefthander Austin Wood (7-3) took a three-run lead into the ninth, and quickly retired the first two batters before surrendering consecutive singles, a hit batsman, and a two-run double to Carlos Del Rosario. Righthander Chance Ruffin, the starter against the Bearkats on Saturday, induced a ground ball from Gino Matias to record his third save on the year.

[Gabe]

So does UT have to beat Rice twice to advance? Its so hard to find info on college baseball, its horrible!

[Gabe]

To answer my own question, UT must beat Rice twice and are playing now.

There ya go Gabe ;D

[lonestar]

Rice eliminated Texas tonight, winning 7-4.