Vern hit a two-run shot in the fourth inning off Texas starter Cole Green to give the Horned Frogs (40-17) a quick lead. Carpenter made it 3-0 with his solo homer off Green (5-3) in the sixth.
The teams meet again tonight, with the winner advancing to the College World Series.
Texas (45-14-1) got within a run on Preston Clark’s RBI single in the seventh and Brandon Belt’s run-scoring single in the eighth.
Paul Gerrish (7-2) allowed two runs and five hits in seven innings for the Horned Frogs.
Southern Miss nips Florida, advances to first CWS
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Corky Palmer’s retirement tour will continue at the College World Series.
Joey Archer drove in three runs, reliever Scott Copeland pitched three scoreless innings and Southern Mississippi beat Florida 7-6 to advance to the CWS for the first time in school history.
The Golden Eagles (40-24), the surprise of the NCAA Tournament, overcame a five-run deficit to win for the 12th time in 15 games. The hot streak started shortly after Palmer announced his retirement. Now, he’ll get a storybook send-off in Omaha, Neb.
Archer had two huge hits to get them there. He had an RBI double in the fourth, then drove in two runs with a single in the three-run eighth off Billy Bullock (3-3).
Tyler Koelling followed with a grounder to the shortstop that should’ve been an ending-inning double play with the game tied at 6. But Preston Tucker, Florida’s best player, couldn’t field the throw that skipped in the dirt.
Tucker singled in the ninth to give the Gators (42-22) a chance, but closer Collin Cargill got Josh Adams to hit into a game-ending double play for his 13th save.
Teammates rushed the field and piled onto Cargill, who also got a save in Saturday’s win. The 1,000 or so supporters who made the trip to Gainesville started chanting “Corky, Corky, Corky,” and two players answered the call by dousing Palmer with an ice-water shower.
Maybe Copeland should have gotten one, too.
The right-hander was 1-5 with a 6.81 earned-run average in 14 appearances this season. But he looked downright nasty against Florida. He allowed one hit and gave the Eagles a chance to put together a comeback after the Gators tagged ace Todd McInnis early.
Virginia tops Mississippi, reaches CWS for first time
OXFORD, Miss. - Virginia is headed to its first College World Series after beating Mississippi to win the Super Regional series.
Matt Packer, in his third appearance of the series, and three others combined for 10 strikeouts and allowed just seven hits as the Cavaliers (48-13-1) set the school record for wins in a season. Virginia improved to 5-1 since the NCAA Tournament began and has done it with pitching, allowing just nine earned runs.
The Rebels (44-20) have lost four straight super regionals over the last five seasons.
The Cavaliers took advantage of three errors and stole six bases, while the Rebels stranded eight runners and were 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position. Ole Miss had just one runner advance past second base after falling behind 1-0 in the first.
North Carolina takes care of East Carolina, advances to CWS for fourth straight time
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Dustin Ackley hit a three-run homer and Adam Warren took a shutout into the eighth inning to help North Carolina beat East Carolina and clinch its fourth straight trip to the College World Series.
The Tar Heels (47-16) swept the best-of-three series against their instate rival to clinch the Super Regional title. Warren (9-2) allowed eight hits and three runs in 7 1/3 innings against the Pirates (46-20).
Pirates starter Kevin Brandt (9-2) - who held the Tar Heels to five hits in 8 1/3 shutout innings in an April victory - took the loss after allowing six hits and three runs in five innings.
