The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Texas A&M - Corpus Christi
Rupp, Shepherd lead Baseball to 16-7 win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
03.04.2008 | Baseball
AUSTIN, Texas -- The Texas Longhorns received solid plate performances from freshmen Cameron Rupp and Tant Shepherd to post a 16-7 victory over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in collegiate baseball action Tuesday afternoon at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
Rupp went 4-for-5 with two doubles, two runs scored and four RBI as the Longhorn's catcher. Shepherd, making his first collegiate start, hit 4-for-5 with two doubles, three runs scored and three RBI as UT's designated hitter.
The Longhorns also got strong efforts from Brandon Belt and Travis Tucker. Belt went 3-for-6 with one double, one run scored and one RBI. Tucker was 1-for-2 with three walks, one stolen base, two runs and two RBI. Jordan Danks hit his first home run of the season, a two-run shot in the bottom of the fourth.
On the mound, Casey Whitmer (1-0) picked up the win in relief with two scoreless innings. He yielded one hit and one walk while striking out two over two innings. Riley Boening, making his first start since 2006, allowed three runs, two earned on three hits and one walk while striking out two over four innings. Juston Street closed out the game with a scoreless ninth inning, fanning one.
The Islanders were led by Trey Hernandez and Chris Widner with two RBI apiece. Jacob Perales went 2-for-4 with two runs scored.
Texas and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi return on Wednesday with a 3:15 p.m. contest at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
POSTGAME QUOTES
HEAD COACH Augie Garrido
On the team's defensive play: (Errors) are the easiest things to fix. It really is and it is the thing that we practice the least. We really are pretty much a product of what we have practiced and there isn't time the way they (the NCAA) do these practices to do everything. There are some teams, like when we saw Rice, that are ahead of us in most every phase of what was going on with the exception of the hitting. I feel confident that we have the athletes. The mistakes that were made today really didn't belong. Hernandez played a very good game at short stop. Tucker took his eye off the ball and the sun was in Kyle's (Russell) eyes, but it's an error because it hit right in his glove.
Defense is easier to correct than anything else. That is the easiest part of the game so I suspect that we will play defense at a high level before it is all over.
On Tant Shepherd: If you can hit, you can hit and it's a lot about confidence. He had a great day and Rupp has been consistent so it isn't about age. Then you go through the ups and downs of it all, but they're right on top of their game. I have felt all along that he is one of our best hitters.
CF Jordan Danks
On how he's feeling playing out in centerfield: I feel really confident in centerfield. Centerfield is where I played in high school. Freshman and sophomore year I played left and right. Now I'm back in centerfield and I feel like I can play either position, but I really enjoy playing centerfield.
C Cameron Rupp
On his play: I'm feeling pretty good out there on the field. It was nice coming back home and having the fans support us. It was a good day for us.
DH Tant Shepherd
It was awesome to finally be in the lineup and it was cool being able to show my team, the coaches and the fans really what I can do. I'm glad that Coach Garrido gave me the opportunity to play and I hope that I get some more opportunities.
