Courtesy: Army Athletic Communications http://www.goarmysports.com

AUSTIN, Texas – Following Army’s heart-breaking loss to top-ranked Texas, a Longhorn fan asked to come aboard the baseball team’s bus before the squad departed UFCU Disch-Falk Field for the hotel.

It turns out the man and his friends had become huge Army fans because of the gritty performance of the Black Knights in the NCAA Austin, Texas, Regional and wanted to offer congratulations and thank yous. The Texas fans had also befriended Army parents and fans and shared tailgate space during the weekend.

The bus worked through the parking lot where the gentleman and his friends greeted the team as it came off the bus. Fans offered hugs, pats on the back and handshakes to the players and staff, thanking them for a great performance on the field and their service.

It was a nice tribute, following a tough end to the season.

Texas, the national top-seed and the fifth-ranked team in several national polls, scored eight runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to secure a 14-10 victory and a Super Regional berth.

The loss to the Longhorns was the end of a long day. Army began Sunday with a 4-3 win over #3 seed Boston College and then took a lead into the final inning against the Longhorns, in front of a partisan crowd of more than 7,000.

Instead, Texas posted its largest comeback of the season and improved to 44-13-1 while winning its 31st regional. The Longhorns will host a best-of-three Super Regional with Texas Christian University at a date and time to be announced.

Army, which went 2-2 in the regional, ends its season at 36-21 while setting more than 40 team and individual records. The weekend marked the first time the Black Knights had won two games in a regional and Saturday’s 7-4 win against #2 Texas State was the highest seeded team the squad has beaten.

Texas entered the regional leading the nation in earned run average but the Black Knights scored 10 runs on Sunday, becoming just the second team to score double digit runs, joining Baylor who scored 14 runs in a win and 11 in a loss.

STANDING ‘O’: Following the conclusion of Sunday’s 14-10 victory, the crowd of more than 7,000 fans provided a standing ovation for Army.

All-TOURNAMENT TEAM: Army shortstop Clint Moore, designated hitter Joey Henshaw and outfielder Andy Ernesto were all named to the All-Region team. Texas relief pitcher Austin Wood, one of five Longhorn players chosen, was the Most Outstanding Player.

HOME-SCORING: Prior to Sunday evening’s contest against Army, Texas has allowed just one run in the first inning of 36 games at UFCU Disch-Falk Field. That all changed when the Black Knights pushed across a pair of runs in their first at-bat.

SWINGING AWAY: Senior Andy Ernesto, who was credited with three sacrifice bunts against Boston College earlier in the day, wasted little time against Texas. With one out in the top of the first, Ernesto lined a single to right-center. He moved to third on Clint Moore’s double just inside the third base bag and scored when Joey Henshaw grounded out. Moore scored on a wild pitch for a 2-0 Army lead after its first at-bat.

QUICK WORK: Army junior Steve Cummings, making his seventh start of the season, needed just six pitches to get through the first inning. He induced two groundouts to second baseman Zach Price and then a ground ball out to shortstop Clint Moore.

BOUNCING BACK: Army jumped out to a 2-0 lead before Texas scored three runs in its second at-bat. The Black Knights responded with two runs in the top of the third. J.T. Watkins singled, his first hit of the regional, and advanced on Andy Ernesto’s second base hit of the game. Clint Moore walked to load the bases. Joey Henshaw then battled to force in a run with a walk. Henshaw saw 11 pitches in the at-bat. Kevin McKague then grounded out to score Ernesto for a 4-3 Army lead.

TWISTING CATCH: Center fielder Andy Ernesto, who had two singles in his first two at-bats, contributed in the field as well with an acrobatic catch. Michael Torres hit a high drive in the bottom of the third inning. Ernesto went back on the ball and ended up making an over-the-shoulder catch on the fake warning track on the Field Turf surface and received a nice round of applause from the crowd.

HIT IT WHERE THEY AIN’T: Army, leading 4-3, added to its total in the top of the fourth inning. Kyle Fleming walked with one out. Fleming attempted to steal second and catcher J.T. Watkins laced a single where the second baseman would have been if he wasn’t covering the bag, allowing Fleming to take third. Zach Price ripped an opposite-field single to plate Fleming and chase starting pitcher Taylor Jungmann. Jungmann entered the game with a 1.80 earned run average with a 7-3 mark. Prior to this start, Jungmann had 77 strikeouts in 70 innings pitched.

Keith Shinaberry relieved Jungmann and Andy Ernesto singled to left to load the bases. Shinaberry gave way to Brandon Workman after facing just one hitter. Clint Moore smoked a ground ball down the first base line but Brandon Belt made a diving stop to get Moore at first. Watkins scored on the play though, to give Army a 6-3 advantage

HELPING HIMSELF: Army starting pitcher Steve Cummings worked out on a fourth inning jam to preserve a three-run lead. With runners on second and third and one out, Cummings made a great play on a grounder up the middle to keep the base runners in place and get the out at first. A ground ball to shortstop ended the inning with Army on top 6-3.

FOR STARTERS: Army pitcher Steve Cummings, making his seven start of the season, threw 4.1 innings. The junior walked three, allowed seven hits and four runs, all earned.

FOUR TIMES: Army senior relief pitcher Tyler Anderegg made his fourth appearance of the regional. The right-hander threw 2.2 innings, allowed two runs, one of which was earned. He walked four and struck out three while throwing 57 pitches.

HIGHLIGHT-REEL: Right fielder Kyle Fleming preserved Army’s 6-4 lead with an unbelievable catch in the bottom of the sixth inning. With the bases loaded against relief pitcher Tyler Anderegg , Brandon Bolt lofted a long drive to right field. Fleming tracked the ball and made a diving catch to end the inning. Fleming partially ran into the wall and held on through the collision to deny Texas’ top hitter of extra bases.

FIRST: Sophomore Kevin McKague blasted his first career triple in the top of the seventh inning. McKague launched a ball to the gap in right-center field and hustled around the bases. He scored when Ben Koenigsfeld singled up the middle to extend the Army lead to 7-4.

GETTING CLOSER: Texas drew within a run in the bottom of the seventh inning when Kevin Keyes hit a two-run home run, his sixth of the season. The Longhorns had runners on first and second but Tyler Anderegg got a strikeout looking and a ground out to end the inning with Army holding a 7-6 lead.

INSURANCE: Army sophomore Clint Moore blasted his 11th home run of the season in the top of the eighth inning. J.T. Watkins was hit by a pitch to open the inning and bring in relief pitcher Kendall Carrillo. Zach Price sacrificed Watkins to third before Moore unloaded a two-run home run, just to the right of the bullpen in left field to give Army a 9-6 lead.

MONSTER SHOT: Army sophomore Joey Henshaw hit a solo home run in the top of the eighth inning and joined an historic group of players. Henshaw unloaded a home run deep to center field. The blast traveled over the “monster” in straightaway centerfield, 400 feet from home plate and at least 20 feet off the ground. Henshaw hit the 40th home run over the “monster” and became just the 35th player to reach that distance and the first this year. Kevin McReynolds of Arkansas was the first to do so in 1981 and Rebel Ridling of Oklahoma State was the last in 2008.

Henshaw’s home run follow Clint Moore’s two-run shot and pushed the Army lead to 10-6. It was Henshaw’s team-leading 13th home run of the season.

HE’S BACK: Army junior Matt Fouch, who threw seven innings in Friday’s 3-1 loss to Texas, returned to the mound in the eighth inning. Fouch threw 101 pitches in his first game start and allowed three runs with one strikeout and four walks.

Fouch replaced Tyler Anderegg in the bottom of the eighth inning and secured a 1-2-3 inning with a flyout, groundout and strikeout.

The lefty gave way with one out in the ninth after allowing a three-run double by Brandon Loy that tied the game. Kevin McKague relieved and Texas loaded the bases with a pair of walks. Designated hitter Preston Clark followed with a “walk-off” grand slam.

LOTS OF BURNT ORANGE: Attendance for Sunday’s Army vs. Texas contest was 7,034, bringing the six-game regional total to 36,070.

BETWEEN GAMES: Army had about two hours after beating Boston College and before taking the field against Texas. Most of the team gathered in the visiting clubhouse – Army was the home team vs. Boston College and the visiting team vs. Texas – and rested, while drying out as much of their undergarments as possible. Thanks to the quick work of Head Officer Representative Col. Tim Trainor, a box lunch was provided and Athletic Trainer Matt Smith kept the players hydrated.

OPPONENT UPDATE: All five of Army’s opponents that qualified for NCAA Regionals were eliminated on Sunday. Ohio State lost to top-seeded Florida State 37-6 (yes that score is correct). Binghamton fell to East Carolina 16-9. George Mason, Marist and Dartmouth lost their first two games.

TICKETS IN DEMAND: With the home crowd anticipating the winning of another regional, scalpers were busy outside of UFCU Disch-Falk Stadium. On one corner outside the stadium, there was plenty of action.

UNI-WATCH: Army was the visiting team in the Texas game and wore its all gray uniforms with black hats. Texas was in its all white uniforms with white hats.