In 2018, red-hot second baseman Kody Clemens hit .351 with 24 home runs as the Texas Longhorns surged towards the postseason with a sweep of the TCU Horned Frogs and advanced to the College World Series after thrilling wins in the Austin Regional and the Austin Super Regional.
But then a Longhorns team without much depth behind Clemens flamed out in Omaha with two straight losses as Texas was thrashed 11-5 by Arkansas and 6-1 by Florida. Amidst the quick exit, there was a sense that head coach David Pierce’s team reached its ceiling just by making the College World Series.