The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
LSU
Baseball forces decisive Game 3 in NCAA Men's CWS with 5-1 victory
06.23.2009 | Baseball
June 23, 2009
Box Score (PDF) | Box Score | Quotes | Notes | 
OMAHA, Neb. -- Pitching and offensive power carried Texas to a third and decisive game at the NCAA Division I College World Series Championship Finals after beating LSU 5-1, Tuesday.
After an hour and 34 minute rain delay, Longhorn starter Taylor Jungmann pitched a complete game, giving up just one run on five hits and dealing LSU its first loss in the NCAA Tournament. Jungmann struck out nine while walking just two.
Texas' big inning for scoring was the third, when DH Russell Moldenhauer became the first player with fewer than five home runs on the season before the CWS to hit four homers in the CWS. His solo blast to right center was the second home run for the Longhorns after LF Preston Clark homered in the second inning.
LSU relievers Nolan Cain and Daniel Bradshaw did not allow Texas a run after the third inning, but the damage was already done.
The Longhorns' scoring started in the first inning after leadoff hitter Michael Torres reached on a walk and was driven in by a single from 1B Brandon Belt. Clark's home run put Texas up 2-0 in the second before LSU answered with a run driven in on an error by Texas shortstop Brandon Loy.
Moldenhauer's homer in the third broke the game open for Texas, who went up 5-1 with two more runs. Catcher Cameron Rupp reached with a double and scored on another double by CF Connor Rowe. Rowe was later driven in on a single by Clark.
Defensively, Texas turned two double plays while committing three errors. LSU had two double plays and two errors.
Regardless of the outcome, this year will be the first time a top-eight national seed will claim the national championship since Rice in 2003. Game three will begin at 6 p.m. Central Wednesday and will be televised on ESPN and ESPN HD.
