OMAHA, June 18 (UPI) -- J.P. Howell pitched 6 2/3 innings and Curtis Thigpen had four hits Friday night as Texas cruised past Arkansas in the College World Series, 13-2.
Georgia downed Arizona in the tournament's opener, 8-7.
Texas (56-13) will meet Georgia on Sunday in a winner's bracket game. Arkansas (45-23), making its first College World Series appearance since 1989, will take on Arizona on Sunday in an elimination contest.
Howell (15-2) improved to 3-0 in the playoffs after allowing one run and two hits with six walks. The only damage done against Howell -- who struck out eight -- was Scott Bridges' solo homer in the seventh inning.
Texas turned the contest into a rout by combining for eight runs in the seventh and eighth innings.
Josh Smith and Joey Side each had two-run singles in a four-run fifth in Georgia's win.
Arizona had scored five times in the top of the fourth to take a 6-3 lead, but the Bulldogs answered with four of their own against loser Koley Kolberg (9-7).
