Game-winning grand slam puts Longhorns in super regionals

AUSTIN – Preston Clark hit a game-winning grand slam in the bottom of the ninth inning as Texas rallied from a four-run deficit to stun Army 14-10 in the Austin Regional and advance to the super regionals.

Less than 24 hours after beating Boston College in 25 innings in the longest game in NCAA history, the Longhorns (44-13-1) were at it again with an eight-run ninth.

Trailing 10-6, the Longhorns loaded the bases three times against Army (36-21) during the inning. The second time, Brandon Loy almost ended the game when he bounced a three-run double off the top of the left-field wall.

A few batters later, Clark hit a walk-off grand slam.

Norman Regional

• Arkansas 11, Oklahoma 0

NORMAN, Okla. – Freshman Drew Smyly had a no-hitter broken up with one out in the ninth inning, and Andy Wilkins went 5-for-5 with two homers and five RBIs as Arkansas advanced to the super regionals.

Smyly’s bid to throw the first NCAA tournament no-hitter in 18 years ended on an infield hit by Trey Sperring with one out in the ninth. Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn then took Smyly (3-1), and the left-hander received a standing ovation.

Second-seeded Arkansas (37-22) posted its second win over top-seeded Oklahoma (43-20) in as many nights, and its third this season.

Fort Worth Regional

• TCU 5, Oregon St. 4

FORT WORTH – Jason Coats hit a game-winning RBI single in the ninth inning to give TCU a win over Oregon State and clinch a berth in the super regionals.

Facing a full count with one out in the bottom of the inning, Coats slapped an opposite-field single to right field to score Bryan Holaday from second and win it for TCU (39-18).

Oregon State (37-19) took a 4-0 lead in the third after Stefen Romero drove in three runs on a double with the bases loaded.

• Oregon St. 13, Texas A&M 5

FORT WORTH – Koa Kahalehoe went 5 for 5 with three RBIs, helping Oregon State knock Texas A&M from the tournament.

Kahalehoe was hitting .227 coming into the game, but had four singles and a two-run double for the Beavers. Teammate Ryan Ortiz was 4 for 6 with a solo home run.

Texas A&M (37-24) didn’t score until the sixth on a homer by Joe Patterson.

Houston Regional

• Rice 8, Kansas St. 0

HOUSTON – Freshman Taylor Wall threw a three-hitter as Rice defeated Kansas State and set up a deciding game.

The Owls (42-16) and Wildcats (43-17-1) will meet again Monday night, with the winner advancing to the super regionals.

Wall (7-5) struck out four and walked one in the longest outing of his career. He’s the first Rice pitcher to throw a shutout in the NCAA tournament since Justin Crowder in 2002 against LSU.

• Rice 12, Xavier 5

HOUSTON – Jared Rogers struck out a career-high seven in his first complete game, and Rice staved off elimination in the NCAA tournament.

Rogers threw 114 pitches for the Owls, scattering seven hits while walking one.

Billy O’Conner and Bobby Freking each had two hits for Xavier (39-21) in its first NCAA tournament appearance.

Chapel Hill Regional

• North Carolina 12, Kansas 1

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Garrett Gore hit a grand slam to highlight a seven-run third inning for the Tar Heels, who are looking for a fourth straight trip to the College World Series.

Gore also hit a solo homer in the fifth for the Tar Heels (45-16), and Dustin Ackley added a solo homer, his 21st of the season.

Tony Thompson hit a solo homer in the ninth for the Jayhawks (39-24).

Clemson Regional

• Clemson 15, Oklahoma St. 1

CLEMSON, S.C. – Mike Freeman and Ben Paulsen homered as top-seeded Clemson routed Oklahoma State to force a deciding game in the regional.

The Tigers (43-20) scored 11 runs in the first three innings and cruised behind freshman left-hander Chris Dwyer (5-5), who struck out a career-high 13 and allowed six hits in 8 2-3 innings.

Tyler Blandford (7-4) was knocked out in the second inning as the Cowboys (34-23) used six pitchers.

Oxford Regional

• Western Kentucky 11

Missouri 6

OXFORD, Miss. – Chad Creger hit a three-run homer, and Wade Gaynor became the Hilltoppers’ first 20-20 player as they eliminated the Tigers.

Western Kentucky beat Missouri (35-27) for the second time in the regional.

Creger tied his career high with five RBIs. The right-fielder went 4 for 5 with four runs scored and a stolen base. His second-inning homer gave Western Kentucky a 7-0 lead.

Baton Rouge Regional

• Minnesota 15, Baylor 12

BATON ROUGE, La. – Derek McCallum’s home run, three doubles and seven RBIs helped Minnesota survive its second elimination game in the NCAA tournament.

Baylor (30-26) led 5-2 before McCallum’s two-out double in the seventh, which sustained a tying rally capped by Michael Kvasnicka’s homer off Jon Ringenberg. McCallum added two more run-scoring doubles as Minnesota scored 10 runs during the eighth and ninth innings.

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