By The Associated Press

OMAHA, Neb. - J.P. Howell and two relievers combined on a two-hitter and Curtis Thigpen had four hits and scored four times to lead Texas to a 13-2 victory over Arkansas in the College World Series on Friday night.

The Longhorns (56-13) have scored 10 or more runs in three straight games and in four of their last six. Texas won its first-round CWS game against Miami by the same score last year.

For the Razorbacks (45-23), who are in the CWS for the first time since 1989, it was the most lopsided loss in 83 games, since Alabama beat them 14-2 last season.

The teams combined for a CWS-record eight hit batsmen, five by Arkansas pitchers.

Howell, the Big 12 pitcher of the year and a first-team All-American, struck out eight and held Arkansas hitless until Scott Hode led off the fourth inning with a hard grounder between first and second base.

Howell (15-2) lost his shutout bid in the seventh when Scott Bridges hit a two-out home run over the right-field wall.

---

Georgia 8, Arizona 7

Joey Side hit a two-run single in the fourth inning to give Georgia the lead and Will Startup pitched out of a bases-loaded situation in the eighth for the Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs (44-21) advance to a Sunday game against Texas. Arizona (35-26-1) plays Arkansas in an elimination game on Sunday.

Side's two-run single capped a four-run fourth inning that saw Georgia turn a 6-3 deficit into a 7-6 lead.

Startup, the All-Southeastern Conference closer, came on in the seventh and struck out the side.

He ran into trouble in the eighth. Arizona got within 8-7 when Brad Boyer beat out a potential double-play grounder, allowing Hundley to score from third base. Trevor Crowe then singled and Jeff Van Houten walked to load the bases.

Startup ran the count to 3-2 against Jordan Brown before Brown struck out for the third time in the game when he swung and missed a fastball.

Startup pitched a perfect ninth to earn his 11th save.