Elimination Clash in Omaha
The 2026 College World Series elimination game brought Texas and Alabama together at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska, with the Longhorns holding a 7-2 advantage in the fourth inning.
Texas relied on starter Ruger Riojas, a pitcher with a 4.04 ERA and 113 strikeouts in 75.2 innings this season, who continued to perform despite shoulder tendonitis, while Alabama countered with Zane Adams, a 3.96 ERA arm who had been recruited by Texas coach Jim Schlossnagle but chose Alabama for family reasons.
Early in the game, Ethan Mendoza and Adrian Rodriguez delivered RBI doubles in the first inning, and Luke Vaughn followed with an RBI single in the second to put Alabama on the board.
Texas then exploded for seven runs in the second inning, all with two outs, extending their lead before John Lemm hit a solo shot in the fourth to trim the margin.
The contest was aired on ESPN Radio, drawing a national audience to the showdown.
The Texas roster featured a deep lineup that included Jim Schlossnagle, Zane Adams, Ruger Riojas, Anthony Pack Jr., Ethan Mendoza, Adrian Rodriguez, Carson Tinney, Temo Becerra, Ashton Larson, Casey Borba, Dariyan Pendergrass, Bryce Fowler, Justin Lebron, Brady Neal, Jason Torres, John Lemm, Eric Hines, Brennan Holt, Luke Vaughn, and Peyton Steele, while Alabama’s side was represented by the Crimson Tide.
Both programs, represented by the Texas Longhorns and Alabama Crimson Tide, are part of a broader regional competition that also involves Texas A&M, underscoring the significance of the matchup within the tournament.