The Texas Longhorns will continue their quest to get back to Omaha for the College World Series on Saturday night, as they play their second game in the NCAA Baseball Regional Tournament. The Longhorns will be taking on the Kent State Golden Flashes, who defeated Texas State on Friday.
The Longhorns, of course, defeated their first round opponent on Friday - the Princeton Tigers. Texas won the game by a 5-3 margin, which is hardly convincing for a nationally ranked team against an Ivy League school, but a win is a win regardless.
On Saturday night, the Longhorns will almost certainly send ace Taylor Jungmann to the mound to take on Kent State. Texas' No. 3 pitcher, Sam Stafford, started and won against Princeton, saving Jungmann and No. 2 starter Cole Green for Sunday's game.
Per Baseball America, it looks like Kent State will be sending their ace to the mound too - Andrew Chafin.
Texas coach Augie Garrido moved usual No. 3 hitter Tant Shepherd to the leadoff spot, and the senior responded by hitting a big two-run homer in the fifth inning in support of Sam Stafford (7 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 6 K). Kent State got a strong start from Kyle Hallock (6.1 IP, 4 H, 1 ER) and stellar relief work from Justin Gill (2.1 IP, 1 H, 1 ER) and Kyle McMillen (2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R), then got to the Texas State bullpen for two runs in the 11th. Carson Smith (9 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K) was strong in a no-decision for the Bobcats. Saturday now features a marquee pitching showdown between Texas ace Taylor Jungmann and Kent State ace Andrew Chafin.
First pitch is slated for 6 p.m. CDT.