C.J. Hinojosa has hit one for the College World Series record books…
The college baseball player broke a long CWS homer drought in the seventh inning, and Chad Hollingsworth and Travis Duke limited UC Irvine to four hits in the Texas Longhorns’ 1-0 win over the Anteaters – first shutout of this year’s CWS – in an elimination game Wednesday night.
Hinojosa’s second homer of the season was the first at the CWS in 115 innings dating to last year.
“Four players fainted,” Texas coach Augie Garrido joked, describing his dugout’s reaction when Hinojosa’s drive left TD Ameritrade Park.
The Longhorns (45-20), who won just the second 1-0 game at the CWS since 1985, advance to a bracket final against Vanderbilt. They need to beat the Commodores (48-19) on Friday and again Saturday to reach next week’s best-of-three finals.
In the seventh inning, Hinojosa’s homerun came against Irvine left-handed starter Evan Manarino‘s 2-0 fastball and was launched into a 24 mph cross wind. The ball hit the back wall in the bullpen in left field for his fourth homer in 115 career games and first since April 11. It was only the 23rd home run since the CWS moved to cavernous TD Ameritrade Park in 2011.
“I was just trying to see a good pitch,” Hinojosa said. “I put a good swing on it, and it flew out. I think the wind might have changed. That was kind of lucky on our side.”