Arkansas bats bring 11-5 win to drop Texas into the loser’s bracket

Weather permitting, Oregon State and Washington try to survive in the losers bracket today, and it’s North Carolina versus Mississippi State in the winner’s bracket at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Neb.

By Arnie Leshin 

Nothing new for the rain to delay a game and force a long wait,

That’s the annual NCAA Division I Baseball World Series played before a full house at TD Armeritrade Park in Omaha, Neb.

And when the rain crashed the party Sunday morning, it was the sixth inning of a game scheduled to start at 10 Am., and while the teams were pulled off the field, the spectators also scattered.

For Arkansas it was just a break of almost three hours before play resumed against Texas. The Razorbacks had already scored four times in the bottom of the frame to grab a 7-2 lead. Then the skies emptied, and while the game was stopped, it mattered little to the Hogs.

Play resumed and Arkansas added four more runs in the sixth and now held an 11-2 advantage. That was it, Texas did add on three more runs, but fell way short in the 11-5 setback that dropped it into the loser’s bracket versus top seed, defending champion Florida (47-20) Tuesday. The loser goes home, the winner remains in the chase.

As for Arkansas (45-19), a No. 1 seed, it will bring its bats to take on Texas Tech (45-18) n the winner’s bracket Tuesday. Against the stunned Long Horns, it outhit Texas 15-9, played some excellent defense, and even the pitching played a big part as Texas fell to 42-22.

Today, it’s just another day unless the precipitation rains on the biggest stage in college baseball. In past years, games have even been postponed until the next day. Regardless, it’s not easy to purchase a ticket to this event.

But the slate has a loser’s bracket contest matching 3rd ranked Oregon State

Against Pac-12 rival Washington in the opener at 2 p.m., and followed by North Carolina and Mississippi State in the winner’s bracket at around 7 p.m.

That is if the rain doesn’t fall and force delays, something that the CWS is always alert for, that and lightening and thunder.

As for Texas Tech, it merely outplayed the Gators, who also survived elimination in both the Regional and Super Region they hosted in Gainesville.

This time, Florida scored once in the first inning, but back came ambitious

Tech to push across four runs in the top of the fourth to go in front f or good

in turning in a 6-3 triumph.

The Big 12 School showed some outstanding play in the outfield and its

pitching kept the Gators at bay, and it was another surprise in the CWS.

But Arkansas’ win wasn’t a surprise. It scored double-digit runs for the

Fourth time in six games of the tournament, and had its highest total in 28

CWS games, while Texas is playing for a record 36th time, but lost its third

Straight Omaha opener since 2011.

But don’t be alarmed if you turn on the TV and notice that rain has delayed play, a regular annoyance that also falls in the NCAA women’s softball World Series played in Oklahoma City. But that’s over, as Florida State came out of the loser’s bracket to turn back top-seeded Oregon State back-to-back in the best-of-three championship series.

Now it’s baseball’s turn to crown a winner. Weather permitting.