Local Sports
Texas evens series with LSU
OMAHA, Neb. Ñ Freshman Taylor Jungmann limited LSU to five hits in his first complete game, and Russell Moldenhauer hit his record-tying fourth home run of the College World Series as Texas evened the best-of-three finals, 5-1 over LSU on Tuesday night.
The top-seeded Longhorns (50-15-1) forced a winner-take-all game Wednesday night for the national championship. LSU (55-17), ranked No. 1 in the major polls, lost for the first time in 15 games.
Jungmann, who threw six pitches all for balls in a short relief appearance in Game 1 Monday, struck out nine against an LSU offense that averaged 9.5 runs in its first four CWS games.
Jungmann (11-3) won his third game in Omaha Ñ the other two were in relief Ñ and he pitched the first complete game in the CWS since 2006.
LSU starter Aaron Ross (6-8) lasted only two innings in his first CWS start.
Preston Clark homered for a 2-0 lead in the second and finished with three hits and two RBIs.
Moldenhauer's surprising show of power continued. He came to Omaha with no home runs this season and became the 10th player to hit four in a CWS when he sent a high fly over the right-center field fence off Ryan Byrd in the third.
Jungmann had never pitched more than 7 2-3 innings. He gave up a triple to DJ LeMahieu leading off the third in addition to four singles.
LSU scored on shortstop Brandon Loy's fielding error in the second. The Tigers got the leadoff man on base to start four innings after that, but couldn't score.
LeMahieu tripled into the right-field corner to start the third, and Jungmann walked Blake Dean with one out. Jungmann struck out Micah Gibbs and got Mike Mahtook to ground out.
Jungmann got a big defensive play from second baseman Travis Tucker with a runner on first base in the fourth. Tucker went into the hole to backhand Derek Helenihi's grounder up the middle, underhanded the ball to Loy, who made the throw to first to complete the inning-ending double play.
In the sixth, Dean reached on an infield single and took another base when Tucker let the ball get past him as he backed up first. But Dean left second base too early on Gibbs' fly to center and, as he was standing on third, was called out when Jungmann threw back to Tucker at second.
The Longhorns scored all five runs in the first three innings and mustered only four singles the rest of the way.
LSU left fielder Leon Landry robbed Kevin Keyes of extra bases in the fifth, his body going parallel to the ground as he laid out to snag Keyes' drive into the corner.
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Top-ranked Bearcats feel same old blues on road in Russellville
Four turnovers. Two missed field goals. Several blown assignments.
Not many teams can survive that many miscues in the playoffs. Top-ranked Cullman found that out Friday night, getting upended 42-14 at No. 5 Russellville in the Class 5A quarterfinals. -
Top-ranked Bearcats feel same old blues on road in Russellville
Four turnovers. Two missed field goals. Several blown assignments.
Not many teams can survive that many miscues in the playoffs. Top-ranked Cullman found that out Friday night, getting upended 42-14 at No. 5 Russellville in the Class 5A quarterfinals. -
PREP BASKETBALL ROUNDUP: Eagles hold on, defeat Holly Pond in nailbiter
Late in the fourth quarter Friday night, just before a couple of big free throws, Cold Springs High girls basketball coach Tammy West pulled aside Georgia Myrex for a quick pep talk.
Except for one thing: When West placed both hands on top of her star player’s head, it looked a little more like some kind of crunch-time benediction.
Or something like that. - PREP BASKETBALL ROUNDUP: Holly Pond stays unbeaten, sets up showdown with defending champs
- Wallace pitcher Holley signs letter of intent with UAB
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CULLMAN FOOTBALL: Top-ranked Bearcats return to Russellville looking for revenge — one year later
Behold the power of three.
Heading into its Class 5A quarterfinal tonight at Russellville, Cullman High’s football team has already avenged two of its three losses from the 2008 season.
In week six, the Bearcats beat Erwin 42-16 to avenge a 25-20 loss from last season. And in week eight, Cullman downed Mountain Brook 28-13 to get revenge for last year’s 49-34 defeat.
Guess who the third target is. -
TALKIN' PREPS: Looks like more basketball parity this season
No juggernauts. No clear-cut favorites. Just a bunch of basketball teams that could beat every other team in the area.
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AUBURN FOOTBALL: Washington may be playing himself into job as kick returner
The road to success has been long for Demond Washington.
Just about as long as his big return last weekend against Georgia.
With his Auburn Tigers trailing 24-17 in the fourth quarter this past Saturday, Washington took a Bulldogs kickoff at his own 1-yard line, weaved in and out of traffic and sped all the way to the end zone for a 99-yard touchdown. -
CULLMAN FOOTBALL: Versatile Adams fills multiple roles in Cats’ offense
Connor Adams has worn several labels over the past 15 months.
Starting running back, injured reserve, H-back, Wildcat quarterback, fill-in running back — those all fit the bill.
But here’s another one Adams can claim, and it’s something a little different:
Blessed. -
PREP BASKETBALL: Raiders give Hulsey family bragging rights
Tristan Hulsey didn’t hear a congratulatory yell from his father when he made a layup to give West Point High a one-point advantage heading into halftime.
His dad had a look of disgust on his face, instead. -
PREP BASKETBALL ROUNDUP: Aggies hold on, defeat Douglas
airview High’s basketball team stayed unbeaten with a nailbiting win Tuesday night, beating Douglas 52-20.
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