The Texas Longhorns needed to stay alive in their run for the College World Series. Well, they took care of business in an elimination game against Alabama in a 14-2 victory at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, NE on Monday.

The Longhorns will await the loser in the winner’s bracket between Oklahoma and Georgia, in an SEC battle fest in bracket 2 of the CWS.

While scoring its most runs at the College World Series since 1992, Texas was led offensively by Adrian Rodriguez. The sophomore shortstop went 5-for-5 with a single, two doubles, triple, homer and seven RBIs. After the official scorer reversed a decision that originally ruled that Rodriguez’s second-inning triple was a single with a two-base error, Rodriguez was credited with the third hitting cycle in the College World Series’ 79-year history.

He also tied a CWS record with his seven RBIs; six others matched that feat, most recently Mississippi State’s Jordan Westburg in 2018.

Anthony Pack, Jr. would also have a great day with Rodriguez. Pack would drive in four runs and became the first freshman since 2002 to hit a home run in Omaha. Ethan Mendoza would have two RBIs before leaving the game with a shoulder injury.

Texas didn’t need that much run support as senior pitcher Ruger Riojas allowed six hits, two walks and two runs over his six-inning start. In what may have been his last collegiate appearance, Riojas struck out seven batters.

Texas, the sixth seeded in the tournament, would have thirteen hits in the game and six walks while Alabama, the seven seed, only could muster six with two players getting multiple hits and reaching base. 

Monday’s victory was the program’s first in Omaha since 2021. The Longhorns now boast an all-time record of 89-66 in the College World Series