Islanders Topple UT Brownsville, 7-1

and Trey Hernandez each went deep as the Texas A&M - Corpus Christi baseball team defeated UT Brownsville, 7-1, on Tuesday at Chapman Field. Nine Islanders pitchers combined to hold the Scorpions (25-7) to one run on six hits.

Hernandez and Jacob Perales each had two hits in the victory, while Hernandez and Marx each drove in three. Brett Carnline punched out the side in the first inning as he improved to 4-1 on the season. Chris Pena also struck out three in a perfect frame, joining Sean Hoelscher and Adam Hoelscher in tossing 1-2-3 innings. All 16 healthy position players appeared in the game for the home squad. Brad Regehr went 2-for-2 for the Scorpions.

The Islanders got out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Marek reached on a bunt with one away, as the pitcher threw the ball away on a bang-bang play. After he stole second, Hernandez followed, and the senior shot a ball up the middle to plate the speedy Marek for a 1-0 lead.

In the third, Hernandez used his power to push the lead to 3-0. After Marek reached on a swinging bunt single, the first baseman rocked a pitch over the wall in right center for his fourth homer of the year. It was the 43rd of his career as well, as he furthered his school record.

The Scorpions struck with their first run of the game in the top of the seventh, using a leadoff single, stolen base, sac bunt and groundout to make it 3-1. But the Islanders responded in the bottom of the frame. Omar Garcia reached on an error with one out, and two batters later Drew Vest reached after being hit by a pitch. Bobby Buckner pinch hit for the Islanders, and dumped a single into right field to plate Garcia for a 4-1 lead.

Texas A&M - Corpus Christi pushed across three insurance runs in the eighth. Perales drew a leadoff walk and Matt Holland followed with a single. After a double play, Dan Sciantarelli was hit by a pitch, bringing Marx to the plate as a pinch-hitter. The righty ripped a ball to deep right center over the scoreboard for a three-run shot to push it to a 7-1 lead. The younger Hoelscher finished off the side in the ninth for the win.

The Islanders next play host to McNeese State for a three-game series at Whataburger Field this weekend. The teams will do battle on Friday at 6:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 and Sunday at 1. Live video and statistics will be available on GoIslanders.com.