CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas -- 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.