The opening game of the College World Series for the Texas Longhorns always shaped up as a pitcher’s duel against the Mississippi State Bulldogs with two potential first-round picks going head to head.
On Sunday evening at TD Ameritrade Park, it was Bulldogs ace Will Bednar who had the upper hand in a 2-1 win for Mississippi State that sends Texas to the loser’s bracket after strikeout issues dominated the disappointing performance by the Longhorns.
Unfortunately for the Longhorns, difficulties even putting the ball in play negated the favorable conditions with the wind as the Bulldogs set a nine-inning College World Series record with 21 strikeouts.