The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
Baseball wins sixth straight game
04.14.2009 | Baseball
April 14, 2009
AUSTIN, Texas -- The No. 9 Texas Longhorns capitalized on a perfect performance on the base paths to run away with a 5-2 victory over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Tonight's triumph marked Texas' sixth straight win this season.
Texas (25-8) scored first for the 11th straight game. With two outs in the bottom of the first, Brandon Belt singled to right field and stole second shortly after. The next batter, Russell Moldenhauer, plated Belt with a double to right center to give Texas a 1-0 lead.
The Longhorns immediately went back to work the following inning. The leadoff batter, Kevin Keyes, reached on a rocket single up the middle and promptly swiped second base the next pitch. Cameron Rupp would be hit by a pitch to put two Longhorns on base with no outs. After Brandon Loy sacrificed the runners over, Connor Rowe reached on a botched fielder's choice to load the bases. With one out, Travis Tucker doubled to right center to bring home Keyes and Rupp, inflating Texas' cushion to 3-0.
After designated starter Austin Dicharry held the Islanders silent through three innings, Texas widened its gap with another run in the third. Tant Shepherd hit a one-out double to left center and then stole Texas' third base in as many attempts. Shepherd arrived home on Keyes' second single of the night.
The Islanders got on board in the top of the fourth to close Texas' lead to 4-1. Designated hitter Stephen Flora jumpstarted things with a double down the left line and scored two outs later on Brycen Bell's groundout to third base.
Both teams would go scoreless in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings before A&M-Corpus Christi tacked on another run to narrow Texas' gap, 4-2. With two outs in the top of eighth, Flora hit a solo home run that sailed over the left field fence.
However, Texas responded to Flora's dinger the following half inning when Rupp crushed a one-out solo home run over the same fence to reclaim a three run lead at 5-2.
Dicharry earned the win to move to 4-1 for the season. The freshman right-hander tossed 3.0 scoreless innings, coupling one hit and one walk with four strikeouts. Kendal Carrillo also contributed 3.0 innings, allowing one run on three hits and striking out one. Stayton Thomas allowed no runs on one hit in 1.0 inning. Chance Ruffin, seeing some action in relief, gave up the Flora home run but did his part, only allowing one run while striking out two in 1.0 inning of work. Closer Austin Wood struck out two batters and allowed no runs in one inning of work to earn his eighth save of the season.
Islanders starter Justin Grota suffered the loss after surrendering four runs on 2.1 innings pitched. Grota, who struck out two, dropped to 2-2 for the year.
Rupp led the Horns' offense tonight in a 1-for-3 effort with two runs scored and one RBI. Rupp's only hit was his third home run of the season.
Keyes was 2-for-4 with one run scored and one RBI. On a night when the Texas bats were swinging, eight of the nine starters tallied at least one hit. Of note, Belt now rides a 10-game hit streak for the season.
Texas was also a perfect four-for-four in stolen bases with Belt, Keyes, Loy and Shepherd all pilfering a base.
Flora paced the Islanders going 3-for-4 with one double, one home run, two runs and one RBI.
The Longhorns return to action tomorrow when they face the Islanders once again in the conclusion of the two-game series. The game is slated to start at 6 p.m.
