AUSTIN, Texas (AP) � Texas used six pitchers and smart base-running to beat Kent State 5-0 on Monday and win the NCAA Austin Regional.
The Longhorns (47-16) will host Arizona State in a three-game series in Austin beginning Friday.
Texas got its offense going in the bottom of the first when Tant Shepherd led off with a double and came around to score on a throwing error to give Texas a 1-0 lead.
Up 3-0 heading into the seventh, Texas shortstop Brandon Loy stole second base after singling through left field. Loy scored on the following play when Erich Weiss singled up the middle.
"Base running is about getting comfortable," Loy said. "It's big when you can get stolen bases and see what kind of stuff happens. That fourth run today was huge for us."
Texas scored a fifth run in the eighth.
"It's tough to play from behind, especially when they just keep adding on," Kent State coach Scott Stricklin said. "You get a base runner on and he's on second next thing you know and he's going to score somehow. (Texas is) the best I've seen at manufacturing runs and that's why they're ranked fifth in the country right now."
Kendal Carrillo (6-1) pitched 1 1-3 innings for the win after starter Sam Stafford, who threw 108 pitches Friday night in a win over Princeton, struck out five in 3 2-3 innings.
"The pitching staff was totally unselfish," Texas coach Augie Garrido said. "Like (Texas ace Taylor) Jungmann, today is the MLB draft, and he goes out and pitches an inning, Cole Green picks up his inning, and the whole thing was set up by Sam Stafford. It was just the epitome of teamwork. Very unselfish, very giving, everybody playing their role. That's what it took."
Texas won three elimination games in a row to win the regional, two of which were against Kent State.
"To have to be beat twice, it's tough to handle, it really is," Stricklin said. "We felt like we were in good shape and we were. We had a chance to be in both games and we just couldn't come up with the big hit and I think a lot of credit obviously goes to Texas' defense and their pitching."
Ryan Mace (5-3) allowed three runs and six hits in 5 1-3 innings for the Golden Flashes (45-17).
"This was a wolfpack playing today, boy," Garrido said of his team's effort. "They were getting after it."
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