Adrian Rodriguez hits for the cycle, propels Texas past Alabama in elimination game
By Ethan Stone
Published:
Adrian Rodriguez was en fuego Monday afternoon.
The star infielder hit for the cycle (and then some) for just the 3rd time in CWS history, propelling the Texas Longhorns to a 14-2 elimination win over the Alabama Crimson Tide.
The Longhorns will face off against the loser of tonight’s matchup between Oklahoma and Georgia, which is set to start at 7 p.m. ET. Texas will play next on Wednesday.
This one was all but over just minutes after it started. The Longhorns jumped to an early 3-0 lead thanks to an RBI double by Ethan Mendoza, followed by another double down the right field line by Rodriguez, which scored Mendoza and Carson Tinney.
Of course, this was just the beginning for Rodriguez, who finished Monday’s elimination contest with an incredible 5 hits, 1 home run, 2 doubles and 7 RBIs. Those 7 RBIs are tied for the most in a single game in CWS history.
Rodriguez’s next hit was a triple that drove Mendoza and freshman star Anthony Pack home following Pack’s RBI single to open the 2nd inning. Both teams failed to drive in a run in the 3rd and Texas entered the 5th inning leading 7-2. Crucially, Rodriguez added a single to start things off in the 5th, but the Longhorns were unable to deal any further damage in the frame.
Soon after a 2-run home run by Pack, Rodriguez completed his cycle with this 2-run blast to right field:
For good measure, Rodriguez tacked on his 7th RBI in the 8th inning with an RBI Double to right field, finalizing the score at 14-2.
The Longhorns ain’t dead yet.
Ethan Stone is a Tennessee graduate and loves all things college football and college basketball. Firm believer in fouling while up 3.
