Texas rivalry heads up at CWS

By SCOTT BAUER
Associated Press Writer

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) An in-state Texas rivalry is brewing in Nebraska.

Defending College World Series champ Texas meets Rice on Monday night in the winner's bracket.

The Austin-based Longhorns, who beat Miami in the first round, feel at home here in Omaha.

Texas didn't lose a game last year at Rosenblatt Stadium during the CWS. And in the regular season this year, the Longhorns beat Nebraska 10-4 at Rosenblatt on April 20.

``Since I've been here we haven't lost at Rosenblatt,'' Texas shortstop Omar Quintanilla said. ``This is like our second home. This group of guys feels real comfortable here.''

The same can't be said of Rice. The Houston school came to Omaha this year with a 1-6 record in the CWS before beating Southwest Missouri State in the first round.

One of those six losses came last year to Texas.

The two teams have played 251 times in their history, despite Texas being from the Big 12 and Rice hailing from the Western Athletic Conference. Houston and Austin are 187 miles apart.

Texas has dominated the series, 205-44 with two ties. This year, Rice beat Texas 2-1 in their only meeting March 11.

Rice coach Wayne Graham said the two teams are evenly matched.

``It's just who's good that day,'' Graham said.

The two teams definitely know each other well.

``They're familiar with us, we're familiar with them,'' said Eric Sultemeier, Texas' left fielder. ``It's always a great battle between two great teams. This time the stakes are higher.''

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^NO SQUEAKERS: Tight games were scarce through the first round of the CWS. Entering Sunday's games, winners outscored losers 33-6. The closest game was Rice's 4-2 victory over Southwest Missouri State. Through the first four games, the teams were scoring an average of 9.75 runs per game.

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^NOT SNAKE BIT@: Southwest Missouri State pitcher Bob Zimmermann doesn't feel snake bit, even though his pet 4 1/2 foot boa traveled with him to Omaha. The snake's name? Omaha.

Zimmermann said he bought the snake and named it after the home of the College World Series two years ago. He said he hoped it would help the team make it to the series.

It worked.

The snake didn't make it to the dugout for the Bears' first game Saturday, a 4-2 loss to Rice. But Zimmermann said he hopes it will make it to the stadium to bring the team some luck before the series ends.

Southwest Missouri State plays Miami on Monday in an elimination game.

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)