Career Game Highs
Innings Pitched: *7.0, last 4/7 at South Carolina
Strikeouts: 8, 2/27/16 vs. UIC
Hits Allowed: *5, last 5/16 vs. Middle Tennessee
Walks Allowed: 4, 5/23 vs. South Carolina
Runs Allowed: *4, last 5/23 vs. South Carolina
COACH CORBIN QUOTE: I really like how Matt has developed in our program. He started to blossom at the end of his freshman year and then became our ‘go-to guy’ all of last year, leading the team in appearances. He is a versatile young man who is very athletic and adept at fielding his position. He will be a main component of our pitching staff this year. Total team guy who has a lot of energy for his teammates… he loves his team.
2017 – Turned in the best start of his career with six scoreless innings to earn win vs. Clemson 6/5 at Clemson Regional, scattering three hits and striking out five… Gave up a career-high three home runs over 4.2 innings in his third straight start, allowing four runs, three earned, against South Carolina 5/23 at SEC Tournament… Earned the victory in his second career start, tossing six solid innings against Middle Tennessee 5/16 allowing one run on five hits with six strikeouts… Started for the first time in his career at Louisville 5/9 taking the loss after giving up four runs on five hits over four innings… Allowed one inherited run to score in loss to Missouri 5/6… Gave up three runs on two hits and recorded just two outs against Tennessee 4/29 allowing three inherited runners to score… Pinned with his second loss of the season in first game of doubleheader at Georgia 4/22 giving up a solo home run in lone inning of work in 1-0 loss… Walked three and allowed two runs on four hits over 2.2 innings of relief against Florida 4/13… Matched his career-high with seven scoreless innings of relief to earn first win of season in 13-inning victory at South Carolina 4/7 scattering two hits and striking out three… Worked two scoreless innings to finish off win at Kentucky 4/2 and nail down his third save… Tossed a perfect inning at Kentucky 4/1 out of the bullpen… Turned in a season-high 4.2 innings out of the bullpen against Texas A&M 3/26, allowing one run on two hits with five strikeouts… Gave up two runs, one earned, on a hit and a pair of hit batters over one inning at Ole Miss 3/19… Worked a scoreless eighth inning at Ole Miss 3/17… Tossed a scoreless ninth inning against Western Kentucky 3/14… Recorded the final six outs in win over Saint Mary’s 3/10 to lock up second save of the year with two walks and three strikeouts… Struck out two in 1.1 innings of relief against CSUN 3/4… Pinned with the loss against UIC 2/26, giving up a career-high three runs on five hits over four innings of relief… Tossed a scoreless inning vs. UIC 2/24 allowing one inherited runner to score… Stranded two runners and finished off his first save of the season in win over Evansville 2/22… Gave up an unearned run in his lone inning of work in his season debut at San Diego 2/19.
2016 – Pitched in a career-high 25 games as a sophomore, going 5-2 with a 2.70 ERA… Tagged with his second loss of the season in NCAA Regional loss to Washington 6/4 giving up two runs on two hits with two walks, including eighth inning homer, over 1.1 innings… Earned the win in relief against Texas A&M 5/25 at SEC Tournament with 3.1 scoreless innings, allowing only one hit and punching out three… Struck out three over two scoreless innings in win vs. Auburn G2 5/19… Allowed a leadoff single before punching out the side in lone inning of work against Western Kentucky 5/3… Struck out the side in a perfect inning of relief vs. Georgia 4/30… Picked up the win out of the bullpen with two no-hit innings against Austin Peay 4/26, striking out two… Allowed two inherited runners to score in decisive inning in loss to Kentucky 4/17, allowing a run of his own while recording two outs… Earned the win vs. Kentucky 4/16 with one inning of work allowing one unearned run and striking out three… Struck out three over two perfect innings against Middle Tennessee 4/12… Won his second straight outing with 2.1 innings of relief vs. South Carolina 4/2 allowing two runs on three hits… Earned his first career win with four scoreless innings out of the bullpen, striking out four at Missouri 3/26… Turned in a stellar, career-best seven innings of relief vs. Mississippi State 3/18 in a losing effort, struck out seven and allowed one run on three hits and two walks… Allowed his first run of the season vs. Xavier 3/12 walking three and striking out three while allowing one hit… Stranded the bases loaded with a strikeout against the only batter he faced in win over Xavier 3/11… Struck out two in a perfect inning of relief at Stanford 3/6… Worked himself into and out of trouble in two scoreless innings at Stanford 3/3 in second game of DH walking three and striking out four… Dominated over five no-hit innings vs. UIC 2/27 striking out a career-high eight… Nailed down his first career save, recording the final five outs in victory against San Diego 2/19… SUMMER BALL Went 1-3 with a 3.60 ERA in six games, five starts, for Cotuit in the Cape Cod League, striking out 25 in 25 innings.
2015 – Gave up a run on one hit and a hit batter in his lone inning vs. Belmont 4/14… Recorded two outs and allowed one run on one hit and one walk vs. Wofford 4/1… Allowed his first run giving up a solo shot in 1.1 innings at MTSU 3/24… Punched out two in a clean inning vs. Tennessee Tech 3/17… Tossed two scoreless innings vs. Quinnipiac 3/11 striking out a career-best three… Walked three in a scoreless inning vs. Evansville 3/3… Tossed two scoreless innings in win over UT-Martin 2/24… Struck out one and walked one in one inning of his collegiate debut against Indiana State 2/21 in Port Charlotte, Fla.
HIGH SCHOOL – A three-year team captain earning All-State honors and All-League honors all four years of high school 2011-14… Teams won three straight Catholic League titles 2012-14, district champs 2011-13… 2013 team finished state runner-up after winning regional title… Played summer ball for the Midland Redskins and FTB Chandler.
ACADEMICS – Ruppenthal is majoring in human and organizational development.
PERSONAL – Matthew Guy Ruppenthal… Born 10/21/95 in Pontiac, Mich…. Son of Barry and Laura… Has one brother, Mike, who plays baseball at Southeastern University… Dad played baseball professionally and mom played volleyball in college… Favorites include Justin Verlander (baseball player), Detroit Tigers (baseball team), Dark Knight (movie), Criminal Minds (TV show), Bradley Cooper (actor), ribs (meal), Nickleback (music), peanut butter & jelly (late night snack), Grand Cayman (vacation spot)… Says he would be a singer if not an athlete… Uses caring as the one word to describe himself… Roommates with Tyler Green and John Kilichowski… Recipient of the Monroe Carell Jr. Baseball Scholarship… Chose Vanderbilt for the “mix of great academics and baseball.”