Justin Ruchti’s RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning gave Rice a 5-4 victory over Texas on Wednesday night in Omaha and sent the Owls to the College World Series championship round.
The Owls (56-11) eliminated the defending national champion Longhorns (50-20) and will play the winner of Thursday’s Stanford-Cal State Fullerton game in a best-of-three series starting Saturday. Rice will be playing for its first national title.
Earlier Wednesday, Carlos Quentin homered twice and drove in three runs as Stanford staved off elimination and defeated Fullerton 5-3.
Rice’s Jeff Blackinton led off the ninth and reached base against Texas closer Huston Street, last year’s CWS Most Outstanding Player, when his grounder rolled up second baseman Tim Moss’ left arm and off his chest.
Pinch-runner Matt Cavanaugh took second on Dane Bubela’s sacrifice and scored after Ruchti’s hard liner up the middle. Texas center fielder Joe Ferin tried to charge the ball for a possible throw to the plate, but it got past him and Cavanaugh scored the winning run easily.
