Texas Camryn Williams, center, celebrates a two-run homerun against South Florida in the seventh inning of an NCAA Super Regional varsity baseball game on Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo / Eric Gay)
AUSTIN – As the second round of Austin’s Super Regional Game 2 began on Sunday at Disch-Falk Field, the scoreboard showed South Florida leading Texas 2-0.
This was notable not only because the Bulls had pounced on the No. 2 national seed, but also because no other opponent was able to knock Texas down a hole during the NCAA tournament. . Suffice to say that the Longhorns did not deepen the feeling.
South Florida maintained their lead for a few minutes. By the time the top half of the second ended, Texas were leading 4-2, USF had pulled out its starting pitcher and Disch-Falk Field was shaking.
The Longhorns (47-15) never gave up that lead, beating South Florida 12-4 in front of 7,267 fans to win this best of three super-regions and advance to the College World Series in Omaha, Neb. This will be Texas’ 37th trip to Omaha, an NCAA record. The first CWS games are scheduled for Saturday June 19 at TD Ameritrade Park.
Texas starting pitcher Tristan Stevens wasn’t Roger Clemens’ reboot on Sunday night, but the right-hander found his rhythm after a bumpy first inning and mostly overpowered USF (31-30) in the next five. sleeves. He pulled the team out in order in the second inning, only needed six throws to complete the third, made a sneaky acrobatic stroke to throw a home runner in the fourth, then crossed through the fifth. without any crisis.
Stevens got into trouble early in the sixth after giving up two doubles and a run, reducing Texas’ lead to 8-4. He recovered to secure the next two strikeouts, the last by strikeout, before Texas coach David Pierce called right-handed reliever Cole Quintanilla to win the final strikeout. (He did.)
With the Longhorns’ quality at home and on the court, the 5 2/3 three-point innings Stevens delivered was more than enough to secure the win, his 11th of the season leading the team. He allowed four earned runs on eight hits and three walks, struck out three and threw 51 of 80 shots for strikes.
Quintanilla was also superb, throwing a fastball that embraced 97 miles an hour. He pitched 2 1/3 innings scoreless and did not allow a hit.
Right-hander first-year reliever Aaron Nixon had no problem either. He pitched a ninth inning 1-2-3 to seal the victory.
However, the seven South Florida pitchers never found that kind of consistency on the mound.
Some of those issues stemmed from the Texas lineup, which is deep and formidable and as versatile as it comes at this level. And some are self-inflicted, like the 12 walks delivered and the two beaters affected.
USF starter Collin Sullivan and reliever Orion Kerkering mostly struggled. Those two combined to pitch the first 4 1/3 innings and allowed eight earned runs while walking seven and allowing five hits.
Third baseman Cam Williams set the pace for the Longhorns in that regard, shooting four straight goals before hitting a two-run homer just to the left of the centerfield batter’s eye. Trey Faltine was a shortstop champion as usual, but he also hit a pair of outfield doubles that tackled three runs. Saturday’s walkout hero Eric Kennedy picked up a few more RBIs on a sacrificial walk and flight, and lead man Mike Antico continued his scorching production with two hits, two RBIs and two more stolen bases.
Texas red-shirt first-year wide receiver Peyton Powell even got involved, slapping a single to reach base for the first time since an April 16 game against Abilene Christian. In total, Texas registered 10 hits, walked 12 times, clubbed four more hits and left 11 on base.
Texas is now looking to Omaha. He traveled there with Pierce in 2018, his second season with the program, but failed to win a game.
These playoffs, with upheavals like North Carolina State versus Arkansas National No.1 seed ravaging CWS support, Texas has not stumbled. Through five games, five wins, the Longhorns have played like worthy national champions – now they just have to finish the job.
Nick Moyle is from New Jersey and an alumnus of Rutgers University and the National Sports Journalism Center at Indiana University. He joined the Express-News in 2015.
