Sealy High School alumnus Justin Eckhardt and the University of Texas Longhorn baseball team found the end of the road just a step away from the College World Series Final last Saturday.

Texas won both of its Super Regional games against the University of Southern Florida at home then took off to Omaha, Neb. for the College World Series tournament. The Longhorns dropped their opening game against Mississippi State but bounced back with wins over Tennessee and Virginia before they got even with Mississippi State and forced a third meeting to determine who advances to the final.

Although Texas drew first blood with its backs against the wall, Mississippi State tied the game in the sixth then walked off in the ninth to end the Longhorns’ season near the pinnacle.

Texas finished 50-17 overall and 17-7 in Big 12 play and will return a host of players from this year’s roster, including Eckhardt who still owned redshirt freshman designation this year following a shortened 2020 season and a lost 2019 season due to Tommy John surgery. The member of Sealy High School’s Class of 2018 provided 13.1 innings of work on the mound during the regular season and recorded five strikeouts.