USA – Russell Moldenhauer continued his post-season power surge and Taylor Jungmann tossed a five-hitter to help Texas dispose of LSU 5-1 Tuesday night at the College World Series.

The top-seeded Longhorns (50-15-1), who dealt the Tigers their first setback in their last 15 games, will battle LSU (55-17) in Game 3 on Wednesday night for college baseball’s national championship.

Moldenhauer, who arrived in Omaha with no long balls during the regular season, hit a towering shot off Ryan Byrd in the third to become only the 10th player to hit four home runs in a CWS.
Texas struck quickly when Preston Clark went deep off LSU starter Aaron Ross (6-8) in the second for a 2-0 lead. Ross, making his first CWS start, lasted only two innings.

The Tigers cut the lead in the bottom of the second on shortstop Brandon Loy’s fielding error, and wasted several scoring opportunities to get back into the game.

DJ LeMahieu opened the third with a triple into the right-field corner to start the third, and Blake Dean reached on a one-out walk. But Jungmann fanned Micah Gibbs and retied Mike Mahtook on a groundout to squelch the threat.

Travis Tucker rescued Jungmann with a defensive gem in the fourth. The second baseman backhanded Derek Helenihi’s grounder up the middle, tossed the ball to Loy, who complete the inning-ending double play with a throw to first.

Dean reached on an infield single an inning later and sprinted to second base on a throwing error. However, Dean was called out for leaving second base too early on Gibbs’ flyout to center field.

Jungmann (11-3) struck out nine and allowed a triple and four singles to collect his third win at this year’s CWS. The freshman standout, who had never pitched more than 7 2/3 innings, threw the first complete game in the CWS since 2006.

MEN’S COLLEGE WORLD SERIES FINALS

Monday, June 22
Game 1 – LSU 7, Texas 6 (11)

Tuesday, June 23
Game 2 – Texas 5, LSU 1

Wednesday, June 24
Game 3 – Texas Longhorns vs. LSU Tigers

Photo courtesy of Texas Athletics

Tags: NCAA Division I