Pitching and power carry Longhorns to victory

OMAHA, Neb. – Adrian Alaniz and J. Brent Cox combined on a four-hitter, and Will Crouch and David Maroul homered, leading Texas to a 4-2 win over Florida in Game 1 of the College World Series championship round Saturday night.

The Longhorns (55-16) can clinch their second national championship in four years and sixth overall with another win over the Gators (48-22) today. If necessary, Game 3 of the series would be Monday.

Alaniz (8-3), whose availability for the game wasn’t known until Saturday because of a blister on his throwing hand, turned in his second strong outing in the CWS. He had allowed one run in seven innings of a 5-1 win over Baylor in the Longhorns’ opener.

The redshirt freshman right-hander turned Saturday’s game over to Cox in the eighth with runners on first and second. Then the Longhorns had to withstand some anxious moments.

Cox, making his CWS-record 12th appearance, struck out Jeff Corsaletti and Adam Davis before Matt LaPorta’s two-run single pulled the Gators within 4-2.

Cox got out of the jam after walking the bases loaded by striking out Brian Leclerc.