Texas routs rival Texas A&M 8-1 in NCAA opener

Texas' C.J. Hinojosa, left, signals himself safe after scoring a run as Texas AM catcher Troy Stein applies a late tag during the third inning of an NCAA college baseball tournament regional game Friday, May 30, 2014, at Reckling Park in Houston. (AP Photo/Houston Chronicle, Eric Christian Smith)
Texas’ C.J. Hinojosa, left, signals himself safe after scoring a run as Texas AM catcher Troy Stein applies a late tag during the third inning of an NCAA college baseball tournament regional game Friday, May 30, 2014, at Reckling Park in Houston. (AP Photo/Houston Chronicle, Eric Christian Smith)

HOUSTON (AP) — Brooks Marlow hit a leadoff homer, Nathan Thornhill pitched seven strong innings and Texas beat old rival Texas AM 8-1 on Friday in the opening game of the NCAA tournament’s Houston Regional.

Collin Shaw and C.J. Hinojosa each had two hits and two RBIs for the second-seeded Longhorns (39-18) before a record crowd of 6,603 at Reckling Park. They will face the Rice-George Mason winner on Saturday.

Thornhill (7-2) allowed six hits and struck out seven. Marlow connected for his third home run of the season, and Tres Barrera and Madison Carter had two hits apiece for Texas.

The Longhorns scored seven runs in the first three innings. Hinojosa had an RBI single in the second and an RBI double in a four-run third.

Daniel Mengden (4-9) was tagged for seven runs and seven hits in 2 2-3 innings. No. 3 seed Texas AM (33-25) will play the Rice-George Mason loser in an elimination game Saturday.

Jace Statum had an RBI single in the second for the Aggies.

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