The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
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Nebraska
Baseball triumphs in doubleheader opener against Nebraska, 7-5
04.10.2009 | Baseball
April 10, 2009
Box Score | Box Score 
LINCOLN, Neb. -- Tant Shepherd and Cameron Rupp hit their first home runs of the season to lead the No. 9 Texas Longhorns to a 7-5 win over the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the first game of a Big 12 Conference baseball doubleheader at Hawks Field on Friday afternoon.
Texas (22-8, 7-6 Big 12) was quick on the draw with three runs in the top of the second inning. With one out, Shepherd lofted a solo home run down the rightfield line to break the scoring seal. Kevin Keyes drew a five-pitch walk and Rupp launched a two-run tater down the rightfield line to stake the Horns to a 3-0 lead.
The lead ballooned to 5-0 in the top of the fourth inning. With one out, Kevin Keyes tripled off the wall in right centerfield and scored when the Cornhuskers shortstop's relay throw trickled into the Nebraska dugout. Rupp followed with a walk, moved to third on a single up the middle by Brandon Loy and scored on a sacrifice fly by Connor Rowe.
Nebraska (16-16-1, 4-9) got some help from the Texas defense and two free passes to get back into the contest. UT starter Chance Ruffin issued walks to Tyler Farst and Jeff Tezak to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning. Nick Sullivan reached on a throwing error by Texas first baseman Brandon Belt. The error allowed Farst to score and put Tezak on third base. D.J. Belfonte cut the lead to 5-2 with a single through the right side. The Longhorns got out of the inning with a double play grounder and a groundout to shortstop.
The Cornhuskers added two unearned runs in the bottom of the fifth. With two outs, Adam Bailey reached on an error by UT second baseman Travis Tucker and Farst was hit by a pitch to put runners at first and second. Tezak singled to leftfield to drive in Bailey and the ball was misplayed by Shepherd in leftfield allowing Farst to score and trimming the Texas lead to 5-4.
Texas responded with a run in the top of the sixth. Keyes hit a leadoff single, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Rupp, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a single up the middle by Rowe.
The Longhorns added another insurance run in the seventh to make it 7-4. Michael Torres hit a lead-off single up the middle, stole second base and scored on a double down the leftfield line by Belt.
Nebraska scored an inconsequential run in the ninth. Cody Asche started the frame with a pinch-hit single to right field off Texas reliever Taylor Jungmann. With two outs, Jake Mort walked two put runners at first and second. Austin Wood relieved Jungmann and allowed an RBI single by Bailey before shutting the door with a pop fly to shortstop by Farst.
Torres, Shepherd and Keyes each had two hits to lead the Horns offense. Torres went 2-for-5 with one run. Shepherd went 2-for-4 with one home run, one run and one RBI. Keyes went 2-for-3 with one triple, three runs scored. Rupp and Rowe each added two RBI.
Texas pitchers limited the Cornhuskers to five hits and none of the Nebraska batters recorded multiple hits in the game.
Keith Shinaberry (1-0) earned the win with 0.2 innings of hitless ball, striking out one. With Texas clinging to a 5-4 lead in the fifth inning, he got the Longhorns out of a jam by inducing a groundout and he fanned the only batter he faced in the sixth. Wood picked up his seventh save of the season retiring the last batter of the game with two runners on base.
Jungmann pitched solid in relief, allowing one run on one hit and two walks while striking out two over 3.1 innings. Ruffin allowed four runs, just one earned, on three hits and three walks while striking out three over 4.2 innings.
Sean Yost (1-3) was saddled with the loss for Nebraska. He allowed five runs on five hits and four walks while striking out three over 5.0 innings.
Texas and Nebraska play game two of the doubleheader beginning at 6 p.m. The game is slated to be televised live on CBS College Sports.
