02:53 PM CDT on Sunday, June 4, 2006

By BRIAN DAVIS / The Dallas Morning News

AUSTIN — Texas’ streak of four straight trips to the College World Series has been snapped.

North Carolina State broke open a tense game Sunday by scoring three runs in the eighth and holding on for a 6-3 win over UT in the Austin regional at Disch-Falk Field.

The Longhorns, the defending national champions, were eliminated from the NCAA baseball tournament and saw their season end at 41-21. N.C. State (40-22) advanced to meet Stanford in the Austin regional championship game, which is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.

With the game tied 3-3, UT closer Randy Boone was summoned after N.C. State pinch hitter Drew Martin pushed two runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt.

Boone struck out Caleb Mangum to bring up the Wolfpack’s No. 9 hitter, Jonathan Diaz, a player who was 0-for-10 at the regional. On a 3-2 pitch, Diaz got the barrel of the bat through the strike zone and lofted a ball into center field for a backbreaking two-run double.

Matt Camp followed with a RBI double, and the Wolfpack led by three.

N.C. State starter Gib Hobson (10-2) pitched a flawless final two innings and closed out the complete-game win.