One hit, one RBI, and one run at a time (sort of), the Texas Longhorns kept their postseason hopes alive at the College World Series, defeating the Alabama Crimson Tide to avoid elimination and keep their run going in Omaha.
The Horns, who walloped the Tide in a 14-2 victory, were led by shortstop Adrian Rodriguez, who was undeniably on fire when he came up to bat.
With a double in the 1st inning, a triple in the 2nd inning, a single in the 5th inning, and a two-run home run in the 6th inning, Rodriguez hit for a cycle, becoming just the third player in College World Series history to do so. In five at-bats, he racked up seven RBIs and one run in his five-for-five performance at the plate.
Players to hit for a cycle in College World Series history
"I had to keep my head down and keep trucking," Rodriguez said after the game about learning he had earned the cycle in the middle of the matchup.
- Jerry Kindall, Minnesota Golden Gophers, 1956 CWS
- Christian Moore, Tennessee Volunteers, 2024 CWS
- Adrian Rodriguez, Texas Longhorns, 2026 CWS
And, yes, Rodriguez's seven RBIs were yet another record-tying performance for the Horns' shortstop, becoming just the seventh player in College World Series history to do so.
CYCLE IN CWS 🔄
— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) June 15, 2026
Texas INF Adrian Rodriguez hits for the cycle after an earlier hit was later re-scored as a triple. It is the 3rd cycle in CWS history 🤘
(🎥@TexasBaseball) pic.twitter.com/0MnatOZm5i
A-Rod wasn't the only Longhorn to go yard in the team's resounding win over Alabama. SEC Freshman of the Year and Texas outfielder Anthony Pack Jr. hit his own two-run homer just two at-bats before Rodriguez's home run.
With Pack and Rodriguez's home runs, the Horns were up 11-2 as the two teams headed into the eighth inning, Texas resolutely bouncing back from their poor offensive performance against the Georgia Bulldogs just one game earlier.
On the other side of the ball, Texas pitcher Ruger Riojas produced an elite six-inning start for the Longhorns, allowing just two runs on six hits while racking up seven strikeouts to help his team build its dominant lead. Then, true freshman Brody Walls entered the game and continued to bring the heat that Riojas started the game with, earning two strikeouts and allowing zero runs in his two innings.
Redshirt junior Ethan Walker and fifth-year senior Cody Howard came in to close out the game for the Horns, striking out Brody Walls, forcing the tag-out of Will Plattner at first, and striking out Chase Kroberger to end the Tide's offensive effort.
Despite connecting for six hits, the Crimson Tide was only able to produce a minimal two runs, failing to come anywhere close to Texas's elite offensive pace in the elimination game. In total, the Longhorns amassed 13 hits for their 14 runs (yes, Rodriguez bringing in half of the Horns' RBIs), and only struck out on six trips to the plate.
Beyond the hitting prowess, Texas's patience at the plate continued to shine brightly, racking up six walks, including Alabama pitchers walking Longhorn catcher Carson Tinney on four of his five at-bats, for a multitude of extra base runners throughout the hitting showcase.
Also read: These Texas baseball stars could accomplish what only few Longhorn legends ever have
With the win, Texas kept its College World Series push alive and would face the loser of Georgia-Oklahoma, which began just a couple of hours after the Horns' victory was finalized. Meanwhile, Alabama was sent packing, eliminated after losing its opening game to the Oklahoma Sooners and its second to the Longhorns.
Compared to Texas's Omaha-opening loss to the Bulldogs, the Horns looked like a completely different team, playing nearly flawless defense with elite pitching on the mound, and seeing their white-hot bats return after scoring just one run against Georgia.
Add us as a preferred source on Google