The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Cantu named Co-Big 12 Newcomer of the Week
02.23.2015 | Baseball
The freshman backstop had a team-best .545 on-base percentage last week and drove in seven runs
IRVING, Texas -- Freshman catcher Michael Cantu has been honored as the Co-Big 12 Newcomer of the week, the league announced Monday.
Cantu helped the Longhorns to a 5-0 record while starting three games behind the plate and two at first base and hitting .375 (6-for-16) on the week. He shares the honor with Jon Littell of Oklahoma State.
The Corpus Christi native (Moody HS) tied for the team lead with seven RBIs while adding six runs and a pair of doubles, and he drew a team-high six walks to have a team-best .545 on-base percentage.
Cantu had the first two multi-hit games of his career in the first two games of the week, going 2-for-3 vs. UTSA and 3-for-3 in the series opener vs. Minnesota, while also recording five RBIs and two walks in that game.
The five RBI performance against Minnesota on Feb. 20 marked the first time a freshman has done that since Cohl Walla and Jonathan Walsh both achieved it during the 2010 season.
The freshman backstop also provided flawless defense behind the plate and at first base, while catching a Texas pitching staff that had a 0.40 ERA on the week.
