06/24/2009
Freshman Taylor Jungmann found a perfect time to throw his first complete game this season, guiding Texas over LSU, 5-1, pushing the championship round of the College World Series to a deciding third game.
Preston Clark had three hits, including a homer, and drove in two runs, while Russell Moldenhauer homered for the third time in two nights for the Longhorns. Texas had won its previous eight games at the CWS dating back to their 2005 national championship until falling, 7-6, in 11 innings Monday.
Jungmann (11-3), a right-hander, allowed five hits and one unearned run, while walking two and logging nine strikeouts for Texas, which can wrap up its seventh title with a victory Wednesday night at Rosenblatt Stadium. He threw a career-high 126 pitches, striking out Leon Landry to end the game.
"I was staying back. I had a good feel for the ball. I mixed the pitches well," said Jungmann.
One night after seven home runs, Tuesday's contest was delayed due to rain and only two balls left the field at Rosenblatt Stadium.
Sophomore right-hander Austin Ross (6-8) was charged with four hits and two runs in just two innings during his start for LSU. Ryan Byrd surrendered three hits and three runs in two-thirds of an inning, but the Tigers still have their sixth national championship within reach.
The Tigers had their 14-game winning streak broken and suffered their first loss since falling in the opener of the SEC tournament. They were trying to become the first team to go undefeated in the NCAA tournament since Miami in 2001.
"I think we'll stay around here in Omaha for another day if that's okay," said LSU head coach Paul Mainieri. "It would have been nice to win today, but [Jungmann] had a lot to do with us sticking around. He was outstanding, he had good velocity and a good slider. This was our first loss in 15 games, it's pretty hard to win every game in baseball, at least that is what they tell me."
Mikie Mahtook, who delivered the go-ahead RBI single in the 11th inning Monday, finished 0-for-4 with a pair of strikeouts.
Brandon Belt singled in Michael Torres in the first inning and it became 2-0 in the second on Clark's homer to left field.
LSU pulled within a run in the bottom half of the same inning. Jared Mitchell and Landry singled with two outs before Derek Helenihi hit a bouncing ball that glanced off the glove of shortstop Brandon Loy and into center field. Mitchell scored and it also put runners at the corners, but Austin Nola was caught looking at a third strike from Jungmann.
Moldenhauer homered to right center off Byrd with one out in the third. His four home runs at this year's College World Series ties a record.
The Longhorns padded their lead to 5-1 later in the inning. Cameron Rupp doubled and came home on Connor Rowe's two-bagger down the left field line. Clark greeted reliever Nolan Cain with an RBI single to left field.
"There was the rain, and it played an important part in the game tonight," said Texas head coach Augie Garrido. "It took the temperature down. It helped Taylor finish the game."
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