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Texas ousts Oregon 11-3 in Austin Super Regional opener behind Volantis, Rodriguez
The Apex Times

THE APEX TIMES

Sports/The Apex Times/Jun 7, 4:35 AM EDT

Texas ousts Oregon 11-3 in Austin Super Regional opener behind Volantis, Rodriguez

Adrian Rodriguez posted five RBI and Dylan Volantis struck out 10 as the No. 6 Longhorns took control early in front of a record crowd at Disch-Falk Field.

By The Apex Times Newsroom3 min readAI-assisted Apex article

The No. 6 Texas Longhorns took the first step toward the College World Series on Saturday night, whipping the No. 11 Oregon Ducks 11-3 in Game 1 of the NCAA Austin Super Regional at UFCU Disch-Falk Field. Texas struck early and never let up, taking a 7-0 lead through five innings and later finishing the Ducks off with a late scoring run and a shutdown final stretch from the bullpen.

Adrian Rodriguez, the Longhorns’ sophomore shortstop, delivered the kind of multi-run evening that can swing a postseason series. Texas reported a career-high five RBI from Rodriguez, including a two-run double in the first inning and run-scoring contact in the fifth. He also added a sacrifice fly in both the sixth and eighth to put the game further out of reach as the Longhorns added runs in multiple frames.

Pitching set the tone just as firmly as Texas’ offense did. Dylan Volantis, Texas’ sophomore left-hander, struck out 10 batters across 5 1/3 innings, throwing 110 pitches while keeping Oregon’s big moments from turning into runs. After the Ducks managed only limited damage during his outing, Texas leaned on relievers Thomas Burns, Luke Harrison, and Brody Walls to limit Oregon to one run on one hit over the final 3 2/3 innings.

Texas’ power did damage in the middle innings, with both veteran swing and long-ball impact. Casey Borba followed Rodriguez’s two-RBI extra-base hit by going deep in the second, and Ethan Mendoza launched a 438-foot homer in the sixth. Texas’ season-long baseline also stood out in a big way: Texas said the Borba blast marked the program’s 100th home run of the year, a milestone tied to a broader power-and-speed statistic, including 100 stolen bases in the same season.

The setting carried extra weight for a program that understands Omaha can be built in June. Texas said the game drew a record crowd of 8,550 fans, the largest ever to watch Texas baseball at Disch-Falk Field. With that kind of environment, the Longhorns’ early execution mattered even more, since Super Regional baseball is unforgiving and every inning functions like a turning point.

Oregon did not go quietly, but it got pinned by missed opportunities and Texas’ finishing instincts. Oregon’s official game recap pointed out that the Ducks stranded a season-high 17 runners and went 0-for-14 with runners in scoring position. Even though Oregon out-hit Texas 9-8, the Ducks could not translate baserunners into enough runs to slow the Longhorns’ momentum, leaving the series with little margin for error.

Texas now has a chance to close the Austin Super Regional and return to the College World Series for the 39th time in program history. Texas said the Longhorns are “one win away” and that they will look to clinch on Sunday at 8 p.m. CT. For Oregon, the next game carries a clear mandate, because the Ducks need to win to keep hopes alive, rather than setting up a winner-take-all swing game three on Monday.

Why It Matters

  • Texas took control of its best-of-three series and moved within one win of the College World Series for the 39th time in school history.
  • Volantis’ strikeout production and the late-inning bullpen response gave Texas a postseason template that travels well to future rounds.
  • Rodriguez’s multi-RBI output provided the type of efficient production that is often required to separate elite teams in NCAA regional settings.
  • Oregon’s inability to cash in with runners in scoring position swings the tactical focus for the next game, because future margins will likely be tighter.
  • The record crowd and early-series execution set up a high-stakes Sunday contest, with Texas seeking the clinch and Oregon seeking to stay alive.

Sources

Key Facts

  • Texas defeated Oregon 11-3 in Game 1 of the NCAA Austin Super Regional at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
  • Adrian Rodriguez had five RBI for Texas, including a two-run double in the first inning and sacrifice flies in the sixth and eighth.
  • Dylan Volantis struck out 10 Oregon batters in 5 1/3 innings, throwing 110 pitches.
  • Texas’ bullpen held Oregon to one run on one hit over the final 3 2/3 innings.
  • The game drew a record 8,550 fans for Texas baseball at Disch-Falk Field.
  • Texas hit home runs from Casey Borba and Ethan Mendoza, and Borba’s homer marked the program’s 100th of the season.
  • Oregon stranded 17 runners and went 0-for-14 with runners in scoring position.