In a season defined by grit and resilience, it was only fitting that Adrian Rodriguez delivered the defining moment.
Rodriguez, playing through the lingering effects of a surgically repaired hand that had sidelined him earlier this season, stepped to the plate in the eighth inning Sunday night at UFCU Disch-Falk Field with Texas trailing by a run. He delivered a go-ahead two-run double off Oregon closer Devin Bell, giving No. 6 Texas the lead it would never relinquish in a 6-5 victory over No. 11 Oregon to claim the NCAA Austin Super Regional and punch the Longhorns’ ticket to Omaha.
It was a heroic performance from a player who had spent the first half of 2026 battling pain from a staple left in his surgically repaired hand — a staple that caused an allergic reaction and forced him to shut down for two weeks in April. Over the course of the two-game Super Regional sweep, Rodriguez totaled seven RBIs, announcing emphatically that he is back.
After Rodriguez’s clutch knock, closer Sam Cozart took the ball and was simply unhittable, retiring all six batters he faced to seal the deal. Transfers Aiden Robbins and Carson Tinney had set the tone early, helping Texas build a 4-0 lead before starter Ruger Riojas ran into trouble with his command, walking four batters and allowing Oregon to take its first lead of the series in the seventh inning.
With the win, Texas (45-13) advances to the College World Series for the 39th time in program history — their first trip to Omaha in four years. Head coach Jim Schlossnagle, who has now guided three different programs (TCU, Texas A&M, and Texas) to the CWS, has taken a club to Omaha eight times in the last 16 seasons.
Looking Ahead to Omaha
The Longhorns will open CWS play Friday or Saturday against No. 3 Georgia, a team that punched its own ticket on Sunday with a dramatic 11-9, 10-inning win over Mississippi State.
1:00 P.M. UPDATE:
Time and date set.
It’s a marquee first-round matchup, and Texas will need its full arsenal — Rodriguez’s hot bat, Cozart’s lockdown bullpen presence, and contributions from its talented transfer corps — to make a deep run.
Texas is chasing a seventh national championship in program history. With a 34-4 record at home this season (their best home mark since 2011) and a roster full of battle-tested players, the Longhorns arrive in Omaha as a legitimate threat to cut down the nets — or rather, the nets of college baseball’s grandest stage.
Hook ‘Em.
A beloved Hill Country animal rescue is picking up the pieces this week after severe weekend storms sent a terrifying rush of floodwater ripping through its property.
Safe in Austin Rescue Ranch, located in Leander, suffered extensive damage to its facilities on Friday after torrential downpours triggered flash flooding across Central Texas. The sanctuary—famous for providing a home to abused, neglected, and special-needs animals—is now facing a massive cleanup and rebuilding effort. While staff and volunteers worked frantically to ensure the safety of the animals, the floodwaters left habitats in disarray and critical infrastructure damaged.
Two American pilots died when a private jet crashed Sunday at an airport in the Dominican Republic. The plane was apparently bound for Austin.
The Gulfstream G200 was operating a charter flight to Texas when, shortly after takeoff, the crew reported a critical engine malfunction and requested an immediate return to the airport.
ICE activity was reported in North Austin early Sunday at North Lamar and West Longspur Boulevard.
A massive new green space is officially open in downtown Austin after years of anticipation.
Over the weekend, city leaders and community members cut the ribbon on “The Confluence”—a 13-acre, $91 million transformation of the southernmost stretch of Waller Creek. The new park features massive boardwalks, native Central Texas landscapes, and pedestrian bridges, linking the heart of downtown directly to Lady Bird Lake.
Austin ISD is planning two community meetings this week to discuss possible boundary changes, with the first meeting set for 6 p.m. Monday at the Delco Center.
Audits, advice and investigations: City Auditor Jason Hadavi talks about what it means to be the prying eye into city government in this Q&A from Austin Current.
CapMetro just rolled out its first major wave of service changes under its Transit Plan 2035 and Project Connect, which officially took effect on Sunday.
The biggest highlights center around the full launch of two major Rapid lines and the opening of two brand-new transit hubs, alongside several structural realignments to local routes.
1. Full Launch of Rapid 800 & 837
After operating with temporary endpoints since early 2025, CapMetro’s two newest Rapid lines have officially hit full service capacity, moving to an increased 10-minute frequency during weekday peak hours.
- Rapid 800 (Pleasant Valley): Now fully extends to its permanent southern terminus at the brand-new Goodnight Ranch Park & Ride. It no longer stops at the temporary Vertex/Slaughter stop.
- Rapid 837 (Expo Center): Now fully extends to its permanent northeastern terminus at the brand-new Expo Center Park & Ride, moving away from its old temporary stop at Loyola/Decker Lane.
2. Two Brand-New Park & Ride Hubs
To support these extended Rapid lines, CapMetro opened two major facilities equipped with upgraded shelters, security cameras, and overhead electric bus charging stations:
- Goodnight Ranch Park & Ride (Southeast Austin): Located on Slaughter Lane, this hub features 64 parking spaces and 4 electric bus bays. It serves as the new terminal point for Rapid 800, Route 318 (Westgate/Slaughter), and Route 333 (William Cannon).
- Expo Center Park & Ride (Northeast Austin): Located near Decker Lane and Loyola Lane, this larger hub features 159 parking spaces and 8 electric bus bays. It functions as a massive connection point for Northeast Austin, bringing together Rapid 837, Route 18 (MLK), Route 233 (Decker/Daffan), Route 337 (Koenig/Colony Park), and localized Pickup service.
3. Local Route Realignments & Adjustments
To eliminate overlapping coverage and feed the new transit hubs efficiently, several significant adjustments were made to standard routes:
- Route 20 Split: Because Rapid 837 now covers a large swath of the corridor at a high frequency, Route 20 has been split at the University of Texas.
- South of UT: Remains the high-frequency Route 20 service running along Riverside Drive straight to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (with extra early morning weekend trips added for airport travelers).
- North of UT: Replaced by a brand-new local service, Route 320 Manor Rd/Dean Keeton, which runs every 30 minutes to act as the underlying local support for Rapid 837.
- Route 18 (MLK) Extension: Extended to the Expo Center Park & Ride, completely absorbing and discontinuing Route 237 (Northeast Feeder), while also taking over a portion of Route 339.
- Route 339 & Route 323 Combination: Route 339 (Tuscany) has been shortened and combined with Route 323 (Anderson) to create a brand-new, unified crosstown path: Route 339 Anderson/Springdale, running on a 30-minute frequency.
- Route 233 (Decker/Daffan): Shortened to run strictly east of Johnny Morris Road, effectively transforming it into a high-frequency neighborhood circulator feeding into the Expo Center hub.
- Route 5 (Woodrow/East 12th): Adjusted to utilize a new turnaround via Techni Center rather than transitioning into a separate route.
Additionally, to streamline fixed-route efficiency, CapMetro removed several specific, low-ridership school trips on Routes 4, 217, 315, and 333, redirecting those resources back into core frequency.
WEATHER
SUNDAY’S HIGH / LOW TEMPERATURES
AUSTIN-BERGSTROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
CAMP MABRY
JUNE AT A GLANCE
5-DAY FORECAST / AUSTIN, TEXAS
Tropical Storm Boris has formed south of Mexico, the hurricane season’s second named storm so far.
…BORIS MOVING VERY SLOWLY OFF THE COAST OF GUERRERO MEXICO… …FLOODING RAINS LIKELY OVER PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN MEXICO…
Yesterday’s episode of State of Texas:
A dangerous parasite targeting livestock has been detected in South Texas for the first time in decades, triggering a rapid response from state and federal officials. Dylan McKim reports on efforts to contain the spread, concerns from agriculture leaders about the federal strategy, and what’s at stake for the state’s cattle industry.
Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson is leaving her post just months before the November midterms. We break down what the role oversees, how her tenure drew criticism from both parties, and the questions surrounding timing and who Governor Greg Abbott will appoint as her replacement.
A bipartisan effort led in part by Senator Ted Cruz aims to overhaul college athletics amid growing concerns about NIL deals, transfers, and revenue sharing. We look at what the proposed legislation would change — and why it’s already facing resistance from major conferences and lawmakers.
As artificial intelligence reshapes the workforce, Congressman Greg Casar is proposing a new tax on AI companies to fund job training and employment programs. Adam Schwager examines the idea, the concerns about job loss driving it, and the pushback from industry voices and policy experts.
From the war in Iran to his plan to use taxpayer money to pay his allies, the Republican-controlled Congress has begun rebelling against President Trump.
Today, Julie Hirschfeld Davis, a congressional editor at The New York Times, discusses whether this rebellion is a preview of a new dynamic in Washington, or a temporary show of independence that will vanish just as quickly as it arrived.
Guest: , congressional editor at The New York Times.
A 25-year-old man faces a felony charge after authorities say he managed to bypass airport gate agents in Houston and board a full United Airlines flight to Los Angeles using a fake boarding pass, triggering an explosives sweep that forced every passenger off the aircraft.
Cattle producers in the Texas Panhandle react to the announcement that a case of New World Screwworm (NWS) was discovered in Texas.
The 28,000-acre Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge that spans Burnet, Travis and Williamson counties has added nearly 300 acres, about a year after a 317-acre addition through an initiative by The Conservation Fund in partnership with Friends of Balcones. (Texas Tribune)
Lawsuits against hotel operators have surged as trafficking victims seek damages under a federal statute. (Austin American-Statesman)
Hudspeth County has issued an emergency declaration after a disruption of water service in Sierra Blanca.
Two nations will be making their World Cup base camps in North Texas.
Sweden will be practicing at the home of FC Dallas in Frisco, and Czechia will be in Mansfield.
SPORTS
COLLEGE BASEBALL: No. 6 Texas advanced to the Men’s College World Series for the 39th time in program history by defeating No. 11 Oregon, 6-5, at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Sunday night.
Adrian Rodriguez delivered the game-winning two-run double in the eighth and Sam Cozart set down the final six batters to send the Longhorns (45-13) to Omaha for the first time in four years.
With the victory, skipper Jim Schlossnagle became one of only four coaches to guide three different schools — TCU, Texas A&M and Texas — to the College World Series.
Schlossnagle’s clubs have played in Omaha on eight occasions in the last 16 years, including a nation’s best seven trips since 2014. (Texas Longhorns)
MLB: The Texas Rangers are fighting to make it back to the .500 mark.
Jacob deGrom allowed only three singles over six innings, Justin Foscue hit the first of Texas’ four home runs and the Rangers beat Cleveland 10-0 on Sunday, giving them three consecutive series wins for the first time this season.
The Rangers are one game back from the .500 mark. (Associated Press)
Nick Kurtz and Brent Rooker homered, Gage Jump worked 6 1/3 scoreless innings and the Athletics beat the Houston Astros 5-0 on Sunday to avoid a series sweep in Texas. (Associated Press).
ON THE SCHEDULE
The Rangers have the day off while the Astros will be in California.
NBA FINALS: They clawed past Oklahoma City in seven heart-pounding games to reach the NBA Finals.
But after dropping both games on their home floor in San Antonio — a gut-punch 95-105 loss in Game 1 and an even tighter 104-105 heartbreaker in Game 2 — the Spurs now head to Madison Square Garden facing a brutal reality: no team in NBA Finals history has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit.
Tonight’s Game 3, tipping off at 7:30 p.m. CT in New York, isn’t just important — it’s everything.
Win, and San Antonio breathes life back into a series they’ve controlled for stretches but can’t seem to close. Lose, and the championship window that looked so promising just days ago will all but slam shut.
The Knicks, backed by a raucous MSG crowd, carry a 54.4% win probability into tonight — and the momentum to match it.
For the Spurs, there is no tomorrow if they keep playing like there is.
Discover a little bit of Italy in Montgomery, Texas.
