In a thrilling ninth-inning finish, the Stanford Cardinal secured their spot in the College World Series for the third straight year, defeating the Texas Longhorns in a nail-biting matchup. With the bases loaded, Drew Bowser connected for what initially appeared to be a routine fly ball. However, a misplay by Longhorns outfielder Dylan Campbell allowed Alberto Rios to score the winning run, sending Stanford to victory.
Bowser's heroics extended beyond the game-winning hit. He also blasted a two-run homer in the second inning, finishing the game 2-for-4 with three RBIs and a walk. Campbell, despite his unfortunate error, had a strong performance for Texas, going 2-for-5 with an RBI and a crucial outfield assist in the eighth inning. His game-tying RBI single in the top of the eighth kept the Longhorns' hopes alive until the final moments.
Stanford's pitching strategy involved utilizing six different pitchers, a decision influenced by Quinn Mathews' 156-pitch performance in the previous game. Joey Dixon earned the win for the Cardinal, recording two strikeouts in his inning of work. This victory marks Stanford's 14th consecutive postseason elimination game win at Sunken Diamond, a testament to their resilience and home-field advantage.
The Cardinal are now set to face Wake Forest on Saturday in their opening College World Series game.
