Adrian Rodriguez delivered one of the most memorable performances in Men’s College World Series history Monday, powering No. 6 Texas to a dominant 14-2 win over No. 7 Alabama at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha.
The sophomore shortstop hit for the cycle, becoming just the third player ever to do so in the MCWS. Rodriguez drove in seven runs, tying a single-game Series record. He joins Minnesota’s Jerry Kindall (1956) and Tennessee’s Christian Moore (2024) as the only players to complete the feat on college baseball’s biggest stage.
Texas (46-14) now moves on to face No. 3 Georgia in an elimination game Tuesday night.
Rodriguez set the tone early and never let up. He ripped a two-run double in the first inning, followed by a two-run triple in the second as the Longhorns quickly seized control. He added a single in the fifth before crushing a 418-foot, two-run homer in the sixth to complete the cycle. Rodriguez wasn’t done, though — he capped his day with another RBI double in the eighth, finishing a perfect 5-for-5 at the plate.
His seven RBIs accounted for half of Texas’ total output, as the Longhorns posted their highest run total in a College World Series game since 1992. They also did much of their damage with two outs, scoring eight runs in those situations.
Rodriguez became just the second Texas player to record five hits in a MCWS game, joining Jim Shamblin, who accomplished the feat in 1949.
The Longhorns’ lineup provided plenty of support behind him. Anthony Pack Jr. and Ethan Mendoza each collected three hits, with Pack driving in four runs. The freshman outfielder delivered a key blow in the sixth inning with a two-run homer — his 12th of the season — marking the first home run by a Texas freshman in Omaha since 2002.
Mendoza helped ignite the early surge, delivering RBI hits in each of the first two innings as Texas built momentum from the start.
On the mound, right-hander Ruger Riojas gave Texas a steady outing, working six innings while allowing two runs. He struck out seven and closed his day by retiring the final eight Alabama hitters he faced to improve to 6-2 on the season.
Alabama starter Zane Adams struggled to contain Texas’ offense, surrendering seven runs on seven hits and recording just five outs before exiting in the second inning.
Texas will face Georgia on Wednesday night at 7:00 pm in an elimination game. LHP Luke Harrison is expected to take the mound for the Longhorns.
