Paced by a career-high five RBI from Travis Tucker and four hits by Preston Clark, the University of Texas posted a 10-6 win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in collegiate baseball action Tuesday afternoon at Whataburger Field.
Tucker went 3-for-5 with one run, a stolen base and five RBI. Clark went 4-for-5 with three runs. The offensive attack was supplemented by Bradley Suttle and Kyle Russell who each went 2-for-5.
Texas jumped out to a 3-0 lead with one run each in the first, second and third innings.
In the first inning, Tucker led off with a single and moved to second as Corpus Christi’s leftfielder misplayed the hit. A groundout by Chance Wheeless moved Tucker to third and he scored on a groundout by Jordan Danks.
With two outs in the second inning, Clark singled up the middle and Todd Gilfillan doubled down the leftfield line putting runners at second and third. Clark scored as a grounder by Josh Prince was mishandled by the Islanders’ shortstop.
Wheeless led off the third inning with a triple and scored on a groundout to second base by Danks, staking the Longhorns to a 3-0 lead.
The Islanders knotted the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the third inning. With one out, Chase Williams singled to right field. Martin Parra put runners at the corners with a single down the rightfield line and Trae Williams drew a walk to load the bases. Chase Wheaton singled to drive in Chase Williams and Bryan Gerondale drew a walk plating a Parra and Jason Graham tied the score with a fielder’s choice grounder which pushed Trae Williams across.
Texas reclaimed the lead with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth. Clark hit a leadoff single and a throwing error by Corpus Christi’s catcher on a grounder by Prince put runners at second and third. Tucker hit a single up the middle to drive in Clark and Prince giving the Longhorns a 5-3 advantage.
An RBI single by Suttle in the sixth inning inflated the cushion to 6-3 for UT.
The Texas lead ballooned to 9-3 with two runs in the seventh on a single by Tucker to centerfield which plated Clark and Kyle Lusson and an RBI double by Suttle in the eighth which plated Danks.
The Islanders posted another three-run rally in the bottom of the eighth. The surge featured an RBI single by Josh Plumaj and a two run single by David Williams, cutting the UT lead to 9-6.
Texas tacked on its final run in the top of the ninth as Tucker hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield to drive in pinch-runner Michael Demperio.
Pat McCrory (1-0) picked up his first career win. The sophomore pitched 3.2 scoreless innings, scattering two hits and one walk while striking out four. Randy Boone finished the game with two scoreless innings one two hits and one strikeout.
Emerson Trager (3-2) was saddled with the loss for the Islanders. He yielded five runs, two earned, on eight hits and two walks while striking out four Horns over five innings.
Texas returns to action on Friday with the Longhorns hosting Miami University of Ohio in the first of a three-game series at UFCU Disch-Falk Field. First pitch is slated for 6:05 p.m.
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