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College World Series 2014, UC Irvine vs. Texas final score: Anteaters defeat Longhorns 3-1 in Game 1

By Mike Marteny

Jun 14, 2014; Omaha, NE, USA; UC Irvine Anteaters pitcher Andrew Morales (13) throws against the Texas Longhorns during game one of the 2014 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 14, 2014; Omaha, NE, USA; UC Irvine Anteaters pitcher Andrew Morales (13) throws against the Texas Longhorns during game one of the 2014 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports /
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The UC-Irvine Anteaters opened the 2014 College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska with a 3-1 victory over the Texas Longhorns.

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The Longhorns struck their first, and only, run of the game in the second inning off of Anteaters ace Andrew Morales.  Collin Shaw led of the inning with a double for the Horns, and was sacrificed to third by Madison Carter.  Zane Gurwitz brought him home two batters later with an infield single to second base.

The Anteaters had a double in each of the first three innings, but were unable to bring any of them around to score.  They also had a man on in the fourth and fifth innings, but were not able to get them past first base.

Texas starter Nathan Thornhill breezed through the sixth and seven innings, collecting his only clean frames of the day.  However, the proverbial wheels came off in the eighth.  Freshman Adam Alcantara opened the inning with a single to left.  After he was sacrificed to second, Taylor Sparks hit a triple to the center field gap and tied the game at one.

Texas then brought in John Curtiss to try to stop the rally.  The first batter he faced, Chris Rabago, singled to center to give the Anteaters their first lead.  After another single by Connor Spencer, Jon Munoz singled in the third run of the inning before Spencer got tagged out at third to end the frame.

Right hander Evan Brock pitched the last 2.1 innings for the Anteaters and picked up the win.  He did not allow a base runner, and struck out the side in the ninth to win the game for Irvine.

The Anteaters will take on the winner of Louisville and Vanderbilt on Monday.  Texas gets the loser of that game in the first elimination game of the series on Monday afternoon.