Texas Makes CWS; U-Va. Faces LSU
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By Jim Vertuno
Associated Press
AUSTIN, Tex., June 8 ¿ At a place like the University of Texas, four years between trips to the College World Series can feel like forever.
The long wait is over. The Longhorns are going back to Omaha.
Freshman Taylor Jungmann allowed two hits over six innings Monday night and top-seeded Texas earned its first trip to the College World Series since 2005 with a 5-2 win over TCU.
"The season starts now, man," said Texas Coach Augie Garrido, who has won five national titles, including two with Texas in 2002 and 2005. "The race is on."
The eight-team CWS opens on Saturday with Arkansas (39-22) playing Cal-State Fullerton (47-14) at 2 p.m. ET, followed by Virginia (48-13-1) against LSU (51-16) at 7. On Sunday, Arizona State (49-12) faces UNC (47-16) at 2, followed by Southern Miss (40-24) against Texas (46-14-1) at 7.
Texas, which earned its record 33rd trip to the CWS, has won six national championships. With that kind of history, not getting there from 2006-08 was a test of patience for players who understand that anything less is considered a failure.
The last time Texas went four years between CWS appearances was 1994-99.
Garrido gave the ball to his tall 19-year-old right-hander to steer the return trip. Jungmann struck out five and walked one in picking up his eighth win of the season before being replaced by Austin Wood in the bottom of the seventh.
"No fear," Jungmann said. "You have to go out there with confidence."
Jungmann also had big early run support. For a team built on pitching and defense, Texas showed some surprising power at the plate.
