Texas Advances in NCAA Baseball Championship After Elimination Game Win

AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Longhorns kept their NCAA Baseball Championship hopes alive with a 15-8 win over Kansas State in an elimination game on Sunday afternoon at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.

Texas, ranked as the No. 2 national seed, jumped out to an early lead. Max Belyeu and Casey Borba both hit home runs in the first inning, giving Texas a strong start. Kansas State managed to cut the deficit to 6-3, but Texas responded with a three-run blast from Borba in the third inning.

Ultimately, Borba finished the game with four hits and a remarkable eight RBIs. His performance was crucial in helping Texas secure the win and advance to another elimination game against UTSA later in the evening.

Pitcher Ruger Riojas played a significant role, pitching 7 ⅓ innings. He allowed six hits and seven earned runs while throwing a career-high 119 pitches. After he left the mound, he received a standing ovation from the Texas fans.

In the seventh inning, Kansas State’s AJ Evasco hit a home run, but it was not enough to turn the tide. K-State scored twice in that inning but still trailed by nine runs as they entered the final two frames.

With this victory, Texas aims to beat UTSA later in the day to keep their championship journey alive. Winning a double elimination game format is challenging, but the Longhorns have proven their resilience in past tournaments.