Omaha, Neb. ? Justin Ruchti’s RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning gave Rice a 5-4 victory Wednesday night over Texas and sent the Owls to the College World Series championship round.

The Owls (56-11) eliminated the defending national champion Longhorns (50-20), and will play the winner of today’s Stanford-Cal State Fullerton game in a best-of-three series starting Saturday. Rice will be playing for its first national title.

Jeff Blackinton led off the ninth and reached against Texas closer Huston Street, last year’s CWS Most Outstanding Player, when his grounder rolled up second baseman Tim Moss’ left arm and off his chest.

Pinch-runner Matt Cavanaugh took second on Dane Bubela’s sacrifice, and scored after Ruchti’s hard liner up the middle.

David Aardsma (6-3) got the win after getting four outs, and Street (8-1) took the loss after coming on in the ninth.

Stanford 5, Cal State Fullerton 3

Carlos Quentin homered twice and drove in three runs as Stanford staved off elimination.

John Hudgins turned in a second straight strong pitching performance, allowing five hits but only one after the third inning in a complete game. Hudgins (13-3), pitching on four days’ rest, gave up two hits in eight innings of Stanford’s 8-0 win over South Carolina.

The victory — Stanford’s first in five games this season against the Titans — forces a rematch today to determine which team will take on Rice in the championship round.