FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Brian Howard pitched eight strong innings, Cam Warner drove in three runs and TCU beat Arizona State 8-1 on Sunday night to win an NCAA regional at home for the third year in a row.
Howard (8-2) struck out nine with no walks. The right-hander retired the last 17 batters he faced after David Greer’s RBI single in the third inning.
TCU (45-15) advanced to an NCAA Super Regional rematch against Texas A&M. It will be the sixth Super Regional in eight years for the Horned Frogs, who went to the College World Series the past two seasons.
Warner had an RBI double when TCU went ahead to stay with three runs in the second off Eder Erives (6-2). Warner’s two-run homer, his fifth of the season and second in the Fort Worth Regional, came in a four-run eighth.
Arizona State (36-23) avoided elimination earlier Sunday with a 6-3 win over Gonzaga.
Texas A&M advanced with an 8-2 win at home over Minnesota late Sunday night.
The Frogs got to the College World Series last season after the Super Regional at home against the Aggies, when TCU won the clinching third game in 16 innings that took just under six hours to play. The best-of-three series this time will be at Texas A&M, the No. 4 national seed.