Longhorns Come Up Short In National Title Game

After a three week deluge of clutch hitting and come-from-behind victories, the Longhorns came up one win shy of claiming the school’s 7th national title, falling to LSU 11-4 on Wednesday night. Texas was plagued by ragged pitching all evening, and as a result it was Tigers celebrating their 6th national championship.

Texas starter Cole Green came out pitching as if the plate were high and inside, and spotted the Tigers an early lead on a 2-out, 3-run home run by Jared Mitchell. But Texas, as has become commonplace in these playoffs, equalized the score in the fifth on a Kevin Keyes 2-run homer. The era of good feelings was short-lived, however, as the Horns gave back the lead and more in a wild top of the sixth.

Taking advantage of an error, two walks, wild pitches and hit batters, the Tigers scored five runs on only two base hits, meanwhile burning through three Texas relievers. LSU went on to extend its lead, scoring runs in the eighth and ninth, leaving Texas one dramatic comeback short.

Texas coach Augie Garrido was characteristically matter-of-fact after the loss, saying, "They are the best team we've played by far. We didn't lose it. They won it. It was a well-deserved championship."

The loss prevented Texas from becoming the first No. 1 seed since 1999 to win the title and allowed LSU to tie Texas for the most championships all-time.

Despite the disappointing finish, the Longhorns capped a fine season Wednesday night and along the way provided fans with a number of memories, from the NCAA record 25 inning thriller in Austin to the ninth inning long balls that sent Texas into the Finals, that ought to become iconic moments in Texas baseball lore.