2003 College World Series Game 4
Complete CWS Index

by John Manuel
June 14, 2003

OMAHA--Texas started the defense of its 2002 national championship in impressive style.

In its first game back at the College World Series since winning the title last year, the Longhorns took advantage of Miami's nerves, inexperience and porous defense, pouring it on in a 13-2 win. It was the worst CWS loss in Hurricanes history, and it came in front of a CWS-record crowd of 26,327, who anticipated more from the matchup of the last two national champions.

"That was one of the ugliest games we have played since I came to Miami," said Hurricanes coach Jim Morris, who has led the 'Canes to Omaha eight times in his 10 seasons. "They took advantage of every mistake we made."

Miami made a few. Six 'Canes pitchers combined to walk six Longhorns and hit four with pitches. Miami tied a season high with five errors, including two in the first two innings that led to seven unearned runs. And Miami batters struck out 12 times, including eight by Texas sophomore lefthander J.P. Howell (10-2).

The victory sets up a rematch of Texas' opening game last year, when it edged Rice 3-2. The Owls beat the 'Horns 2-1 in 10 innings their only matchup this season, back on March 11.

"It was a great game; they beat us," Texas junior Omar Quintanilla said of the first Rice matchup. "I'm sure it's going to be a great ballgame on Monday, too."

Despite the record crowd--or perhaps, considering the Hurricanes' youth, because of it--Saturday's game wasn't a keepsake. Miami's defense was most responsible for the Longhorns getting out to a 7-0 lead after their second at-bat. Junior second baseman Tim Moss led off the game with a double, and two outs later he was still at second when Eric Sultemeier grounded to third base. But Miami freshman Gaby Sanchez threw errantly to first, scoring Moss.

In the second, Texas had two on to lead off against Hurricanes ace J.D. Cockroft, but he got a pair of popouts to bring Moss to the plate with two out. This time, Sanchez flubbed a grounder that scored one run, and the Longhorns pounced on the opening. Moss' roommate, junior shortstop Omar Quintanilla, then delivered the game's biggest blow, a three-run homer to right field that just eluded the leaping try of right fielder Brian Barton.

"I don't think we had the jitters," Barton said. "I think it was just a matter of us trying to do too much."

Texas had too much in the inning, which continued with a single by senior Dustin Majewski. Then junior left fielder Eric Sultemeier capped the rally with a long home run to left. Quintanilla's homer was his sixth of the season, and he moved up to 73 RBIs for the season, second on the team. Sultemeier's homer was his 10th, second only to Majewski, and gave the 'Horns 57 for the season, just 10 behind last year's school record.

"Our power numbers are good when you consider Disch-Falk Field, which is huge," Texas coach Augie Garrido said. "But when you look at the numbers when we go on the road, we out-homer our opponents when we are in a situation where the home run is favored, unlike at Disch-Falk."

Miami crept in within 7-2 with single runs in the second and third, and might have made it closer. But the 'Canes left three runners on in those two innings, including in the third when No. 3 hitter Ryan Braun was punched out on a called third strike that replays showed was several inches outside.

The 'Horns rallied again in the fourth to knock out Cockroft, who had his worst career outing in terms of runs allowed. Majewski drew a one-out walk that Sultemeier followed with an infield hit. Freshman catcher Taylor Teagarden lined a shot off the wall in right field that was scored a triple, scoring two, and Teagarden scored on Curtis Thigpen's single.

Sultemeier, Teagarden and Thigpen, the righthanded bats that complement lefties Quintanilla and Majewski, combined for nine hits in 14 at-bats and drove in six runs. But they won't see an offspeed lefthander when they play Rice; they'll see righty Wade Townsend and his mid-90s heat. Thigpen, for one, can't wait.

"We see a lot of lefthanders, and I relate it to how one game when I batted behind Majewski, and they intentionally walked him three times to get to me," Thigpen said. "That's how it is with us seeing so many lefthanders. They think they can get us out easier. When you come through in situations like that, that's how you gain confidence.

"Personally, I would rather face a righthander who throws a lot of fastballs than a lefty with a herky-jerky movement and offspeed stuff. We as a team have talked about facing Townsend, and he was definitely one of the best pitchers we faced all season. But I think we'll also be pumped to hit against him."