Jacob Perales
became the first Texas A&M-Corpus Christi player to homer twice
in a game this season, but it wasn't enough to overcome a three-run
seventh inning as the Islander baseball team fell 5-2 in its 2008
Southland Conference opener to Northwestern State.
Perales homered
in the fourth to give the Islanders a brief 1-0 lead as the Demons
tied the game in the bottom of the same inning. The freshman from
Moody again gave the Islanders a lead by one in the sixth with his
second long ball of the day. Again the lead would not last past the
bottom of the half inning as
Northwestern State scored in the bottom of the sixth. Both of
Perales' dingers came with two outs in the inning.
"Jacob kind of
caught lightning in a bottle," said Islander head coach Scott
Malone. "He had some great swings tonight. It is just a shame that
our top three hitters were 1-of-12 and didn't get on base for
him."
Northwestern
State took control of the game in the bottom of the seventh with
three runs off Islander starter Brian Anderson.
"Brian did a
good job early on," said the Islander coach. "It just seems like he
has the one inning as it gets late that he has a little meltdown.
Justin Grota has overachieved for us all season, but tonight he
didn't have his best stuff and allowed two runs to score."
Dylan Libadisos
led off the bottom of the seventh with a bunt single and moved to
second on an error by Anderson. He then stole third before scoring
on a bunt single by Micah Tipton. After Anderson was relieved by
Grota, a double by Jordan Nipp drove in Joe Urtuzuastegu, who
reached on a walk. Tipton crossed the plate on sacrifice fly to
center by Justin O'Neal, who also had a team-high two hits.
The three-run
inning proved to be enough for Demon starting pitcher Jimmy Heard
(2-0). Heard tossed a complete game scattering seven hits and
allowing two runs. He struck out seven Islanders and walked
none.
"Their starter did a great job,"
said Malone. "He went nine innings with no walks, which is almost
unheard of in college baseball. He isn't overpowering but has
great command of the strike zone."
Anderson
pitched 6-1/3 innings in dropping to 1-2. He allowed five earned
runs on eight hits. He walked three and fanned five. Grota recorded
two outs giving up one hit and walking another. Bryant Sparkman
pitched a perfect eighth.
Perales and
classmate Trey Hernandez each had two hits for the Islanders.
"We came here
with the plan of winning the series and that is still the plan,"
said Malone. "I told the guys after the game that Omar has been
pitching well, but hasn't been able to get that. I think tomorrow
he will get that win."
The two teams
continue their series tomorrow at 2 p.m.
