Texas A&M Aggies cruise, 'use that energy from the crowd' to eliminate rival Texas Longhorns at Men's College World Series

OMAHA, Neb. — In the maddening wait before Micah Dallas took the mound in Sunday's rivalry showdown against Texas, the Texas A&M right-hander deeply contemplated one piece of advice: It's just another game.

But it was the Men's College World Series, and Dallas couldn't help himself. He charged onto the field after the Aggies' 10-2 rout and flashed a double 'Horns Down sign.

«It's kinda something that's just like breathing — death, taxes and 'Horns down,» Dallas said. «I mean, there's no hate toward them at all. They're a great ballclub.

»If you looked at social media before the game, you'd think it's life or death. And the fans were just incredible today. Both sides made it fun. You can either let it affect you in a positive or negative way. The older you get and the more experience you have, you can use that energy from the crowd."

Texas and Texas A&M have been playing baseball against each other since 1904, but the stakes had never been higher than Saturday. It was the first time they'd faced each other in the CWS, and the loser would go home.

Texas was the team was the team with the bluer blood; it has six national championships and is the winningest Division I baseball program of all time while the Aggies hadn't won a CWS game in 29 years.

Until Sunday.

Dallas, who grew up in Aubrey, Texas — nicknamed Horse Country, U.S.A. — was unflappable. In heat indexes that reached triple digits, he appeared to labor in the first two innings, throwing 51 pitches and surrendering two runs.

Dallas said A&M coach Jim Schlossnagle chatted with him after the first inning. «Just keep doing you,» Schlossnagle told him. It gave him confidence, Dallas said. He proceeded to stymie the Longhorns until the top of the sixth, and by then the