The Texas
A&M-Corpus Christi baseball team tied its season-high with
eight runs, but allowed six runs in the first and trailed 12-1
after four innings in falling 21-8 to Texas Tech at Whataburger
Field in a game delayed over 50 minutes by rain at the beginning
and played in blustery conditions.
The loss
dropped the Islanders to 3-14, while Texas Tech moves to 10-8.
The Red Raiders
struck for six runs in the top of the first inning as nine batters
went to the plate. Texas Tech took advantage of four walks by
Islander starter Trey Hernandez and had three hits. Willie Rueda
had a two-run single to cap the scoring.
"We have no
momentum right now as a team," said Islander head coach Scott
Malone. "We are not pitching well. We are not hitting well. And we
are not fielding well."
After a single
run in the second, Roger Kieschnick hit a grand slam off foul pole
in left off Hernandez. It was his ninth home run of the season.
Tanner Rindels singled to drive in a fifth run for a 12-1 lead.
Hernandez (0-3)
took the loss allowing 11
runs – 10 earned – on six hits in 3-1/3 innings of
work.
The Islanders,
who scored their first run in the bottom of the third as Chase
Williams scored on a sacrifice fly by Martin Parra, scored three
times in the bottom of the fifth off Tech starter Russ Fornea.
Justin Greiner walked to start the inning and, after a single by
Hernandez, crossed the plate on a Williams single. Hernandez scored
on a passed ball, while Williams scored on a ground out.
Fornea earned
the win tossing five innings to even his record at 2-2. He allowed
four runs with three earned on four hits, while striking out
four.
The Red Raiders
answered with four runs in the top of the sixth on six hits off a
pair of Islander pitchers to lead 16-4.
A&M-Corpus
added three runs on three hits in the bottom of the sixth off Sam
Janca. Gus Arismendi led off with a walk, stole second and scored
as Jake Olier hit into a double play. After Hernandez's second
single of the game, Williams picked up his second RBI in as many
innings with a double. Williams would score when Martin Parra
reached on a two-base error.
After Tech
scored a run in the eighth, Williams scored his fourth run of the
game in the bottom of the inning. He singled, advanced to second on
a wild pitch and scored on a single by Marc Carrion.
Texas Tech
finished the game with 21 hits with four players posting three
hits. Rueda had three hits and five runs batted in, while
Kieschnick drove in four. Juan Rodriguez and Tanner Rindels each
three RBI.
The Islanders
had 10 hits with Williams recording four to raise his average over
50 points to .261. He scored four runs in the game with two runs
batted in. Parra added two RBI, while Hernandez had two hits.
The Islanders
open the home portion of their Southland Conference schedule later
this week as
Sam Houston State visits for three-game series. The series begins
with a 6:30 p.m. start on Thursday and Friday. The finale begins at
2 p.m. on Saturday. All three games will be played at Whataburger
Field.
"We need
something to happen for us to get us going and give us some
momentum," said Malone. "We need something to happen. Whether its
Brian Anderson coming out and giving us five strong innings to
start on Thursday or it is one of the seniors or Jacob that get us
going on offense. We need someone to step up and make something
positive happen."
