AUSTIN, Texas — Adrian Rodriguez mounted a career-high five RBI to propel No. 6 Texas to an 11-3 win over No. 11 Oregon in the NCAA Austin Super Regional opener at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Saturday night.
With the victory, the Longhorns (44-13) are one win away from advancing to the College World Series for the 39th time in program history.
Rodriguez delivered a two-run double in the first before recording a run-scoring single in the fifth to help Texas race out to a 7-0 advantage. The sophomore added a sacrifice fly in both the sixth and eighth to cap off his career evening against the Ducks (43-17).
Fellow infielders Casey Borba and Ethan Mendoza both left the yard in front of a record-setting 8,550 fans.
Borba followed Rodriguez’s two-RBI extra-base hit by socking a solo shot into the Built Ford Tough Tailgate in the second. The junior’s 34th career home run moved him into a tie with Kody Clemens (2016-18) for the sixth-most in program history.
Borba’s blast also marked the Longhorns’ 100th round-tripper of the season, as Texas became the first Power Four team with 100 homers and 100 stolen bases in a season since the NCAA shifted to BBCOR bats in 2011.
Meanwhile, Mendoza mashed a 438-foot rocket to deep left-center in the sixth. The junior now has a career-best 10 home runs this year.
On the mound, Dylan Volantis (10-1) struck out 10 batters across 5 1/3 innings of two-run baseball. Volantis tossed a career-high 110 pitches, stranding 10 baserunners along the way.
Relievers Thomas Burns, Luke Harrison and Brody Walls combined to hold the visitors to one run on one hit over the final 3 2/3 frames.
As a staff, Texas registered 15 punchouts.
Oregon starer Cal Scolari (5-1) was charged with the loss. Scolari surrendered five runs in 3 2/3 innings. The right-hander only yielded two hits but issued six walks and a hit by pitch.
The Longhorns will look to clinch their first trip to Omaha in four years on Sunday. First pitch is slated for 8 p.m. at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
