College World Series 2014: Texas' Dominant Pitching Continues, Blanking Vanderbilt For Chance to Go to CWS Final
ByThe Texas Longhorns lived to see another day against the Vanderbilt Commodores and the two teams will play Saturday for a trip to the College World Series final.
According to the Associated Press, Texas did not so much as allow a runner into scoring position for the second game in a row. Winning 4-0, the Longhorns' pitching staff has shut out the opposition for 19 innings in a row.
Vanderbilt came into the double-elimination game undefeated and Texas with a loss, so Saturday's matchup has turned into an elimination game for both sides. Also vying for a spot in the finals, Ole Miss and Virginia had their Saturday night game suspended until Saturday. Ole Miss would need to beat Virginia twice while the latter would only need one victory to advance.
Nathan Thornhill threw eight shutout innings for the Longhorns, though he needed 131 pitches to do so. John Curtiss then came on to pitch a perfect ninth inning and wrap up the victory.
It was a dominating performance," Texas coach Augie Garrido told the AP. "I do think they were trying to run his pitch count up because of the heat to get him out of the game. He has the kind of command where he can capitalize on something like that."
The winning pitcher knew what the Commodore offense was trying to do, but it did not bother him. Each Vanderbilt hitter went to the plate trying to take as many pitches as possible to wear Thornhill down in the 88-degree weather.
"I wasn't too surprised," he told the AP. "They're probably looking for their pitch because they are good hitters, and if they're going to take, I'm going to try to get ahead and throw my pitches, and that's what happened today."
Virginia and Ole Miss saw their game rained out after they played one inning. The game will resume at 3 p.m. ET, airing on ESPN 2. Virginia will start what is effectively an eight-inning game by batting with no outs in the top of the second.
Texas and Vanderbilt will play their elimination game at 8 p.m. ET, airing on ESPN.