UT wins fourth straight with run-rule victory vs. Islanders

Kennedy pitches first career complete game, strikes out 11.

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi scored two runs in the first inning, but it was all Texas after that as the Longhorns baseball team defeated the Islanders via run rule, 12-2 in seven innings in Corpus Christi on Tuesday night.

Tate Shaw hit a grand slam and finished with five RBIs, while Michael Cantu hit a home run as Texas won its fourth straight game. Shaw finished the game with one hit, two walks and three runs scored. Cantu was 2 for 4 with two runs scored, a double and three RBIs in the return to his hometown.

Nick Kennedy (4-0) earned the win for Texas (18-10), pitching his first career complete game while allowing two runs on seven hits and striking out a career-high 11.

Bret Boswell had two RBIs, and Kody Clemens was 3 for 3 with a double and an RBI.

Things didn’t start too well for the Longhorns as Cullen Jozwiak led off the bottom half of the first inning with a solo home run to put the Islanders ahead first. The Islanders added another run later in the inning to take a 2-0 lead before Texas responded.

After Austin Todd reached base on a fielder’s choice and two Longhorns were hit by Islanders (9-16) starter Nolan Holland, Shaw cleared the bases with his second home run of the season. The Longhorns didn’t look back after that.

Holland (0-2) took the loss, allowing seven earned runs on two hits through 3⅔ innings. He walked four, struck out four and hit four batters.

Texas took full control of the game in the fourth inning, scoring five runs with two outs. Travis Jones scored on a wild pitch before Boswell hit a tworun single to put the Longhorns up 7-2. Cantu doubled to score Boswell, and Clemens’ RBI single later in the inning made it 9-2.

Cantu made it 11-2 with a homer in the sixth with Shaw on base. Shaw grounded out in the seventh, which allowed David Hamilton to score the final run for Texas.