CORPUS CHRISTI - The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi baseball team will put its 3-0 record on the line this weekend as it hosts the 10th annual Kleberg Bank College Classic beginning Thursday at Whataburger Field. For more information and to purchase tickets, click HERE.
LOOKING AT THE FIELD
The 10th annual Kleberg Bank College Classic will feature the University of Missouri, Purdue University and Sam Houston State University. The Islanders and Missouri will meet for the first time in program history this weekend. The Tigers come into the Kleberg with a perfect 4-0 record after defeating Iona on opening weekend. A&M-Corpus Christi and Purdue (1-2) will meet for the fourth all-time meeting. The Islanders lead the all-time series with the Boilermakers, 2-1 after meeting in Robstown, Texas in 2005. The Islanders and three-time defending Southland Conference regular-season champion Sam Houston State (2-1) will face off a total of four times this year including Sunday. A&M-Corpus Christi will travel to Huntsville, Texas on May 1-3 for a three-game series with the Bearkats.
WEEKEND PROBABLES
Garrett Harris (Thursday), Matt Danton (Friday), Trevor Belicek (Saturday) and Devin Skapura (Sunday) will likely get the nod for the Islanders on the mound this weekend. Harris threw 2.2 innings against Saint Peter's and picked up a relief win in Sunday's 8-5 win over Saint Peter's. Danton, a senior right-hander, led the team in 2014, pitching 101 innings and recording a team-high seven wins. Danton opened the year with a six-inning outing, allowing just four hits and striking out seven. Belicek, a senior left-hander made 15 starts last season and led the Islanders in strikeouts (80). Belicek earned his first win of the year on Saturday as he went five strong innings allowing just four hits and striking out eight on the night. Skapura pitched five innings in the series finale against Saint Peter's but was unable to record the win. The sophomore allowed three runs, four hits and struck out three.
CLARKE
One player that has come into this year on fire has been Cody Clarke. The junior transfer leads the team with a .636 batting average through opening weekend and is tied for the lead in both hits (7) and RBI's (5).
J LEE
Senior Jordan Lee has shown his speed on the bases so far this year. Lee leads the team with 10 total bases, including a double and triple, the only Islander with one of each.
RETURNING DEPTH
The Islanders return 15 letterwinners from a season ago, including regular position starters Jordan Lee, Tyler Ware, Frankie Salas, Zack Gibson, Kyle Danford and Dom Lopez. Additionally, the Islanders will have the likes of senior Matt Danton and Trevor Belicek back on the mound, with both starting 15 games last season. The Islanders have quality arms in Jacob Dorris and Dalton D'Spain, as well as Devin Skapura returning to the hill.
NEW FACES
The team has added an array of talent on the recruiting trail including shortstop Casey Thomas, third baseman Cody Clarke, infielder Justin Perales and pitchers Garrett Harris (RHP) and Carter Lilly (LHP).
BRINGING IN THE TALENT
According to Perfect Game USA, the Islanders finished with the 74th best signing class in the country, out of 302 Division I programs.
MISCELLANEOUS
As a staff, Islanders pitchers are holding their opponents to a .196 batting average. A&M-Corpus has driven in 26 runs compared to their opponents eight. The Islanders have recorded 10 extra-base hits compared to their opponents' two.
CLIMBING THE RECORD BOOK
Trevor Belicek enters this weekend with 15 career wins, needing just one more to tie the all-time record at 16 held by Trey Hearne. Matt Danton sits at 14 career wins.
PRESEASON SLC HONORS
Seniors Matt Danton and Tyler Ware garnered first team All-Southland honors while Jordan Lee was named to the second team. Danton was the most dominant player on the mound for the Islanders last year. The Bryan, Texas native led the team with 101 innings pitched and 15 starts on his way to a 7-4 record. He struck out 64 batters and walked just 22 on the year while leading the team with a 3.64 ERA. Ware was an offensive force for the Islanders during the 2013-14 campaign. The outfielder from Omaha, Neb. led the team in triples (6) and home runs (3) on his way to a .287 batting average. The lefty appeared in 57 games for the Islanders and drove in 33 runs on the year. Lee led the team in stolen bases with 18 his junior year. The Houston, Texas native also posted a .309 batting average with 71 hits and 23 walks in 57 games for the Islanders. The left-handed hitter recorded two home runs and four doubles while driving in 29 runs.
PRESEASON POLL
Sam Houston State, the defending SLC regular-season champion, and winners of the last three conference championships, was tabbed as the preseason favorite after receiving 138 votes to edge the Islanders (128) for first-place. The second-place finish is the highest preseason ranking the Islanders have received in program history. Southeastern Louisiana (115) was picked third and was followed by Northwestern State (109), Nicholls (98), McNeese St. (90), Central Arkansas (89), Lamar (77), Stephen F. Austin (49), Houston Baptist (48), Abilene Christian (27), Incarnate Word (26) and New Orleans (20).
THE MALONE FILE
Head coach Scott Malone is in his eighth year at the Island University. Malone has a career record of 190-212-2, all coming from his time with the Islanders.
2014 HONORS
Former Islanders third baseman Brandon Tierney earned first team All-Central Region honors from the American Baseball Coaches Association following the 2014 season. The Arlington, Texas, native was a first team All-Southland selection following the regular season, the only Islander to pick up first-team honors. Tierney, along with Texas A&M-Kingsville's Derrick Walls, were named the Coastal Bend's top collegiate performers in 2014. Tierney also earned the Islanders Most Valuable Player honor after he hit .341 with three home runs and 32 RBIs in 56 games last year. He led the squad in batting average, total bases (99), extra-base hits (18) and slugging percentage (.463).
Former catcher Russell Vaughan was named to the 2014 Capital One Academic All-America Division I first team at the conclusion of the 2014 season. Vaughan became the fourth Islander in any sport named to the first team, becoming the first to do so since two baseball players, Trey Hearne and Jamie Landin, were both named first team All-America in 2005. The catcher became the eighth player in school history to pick up All-America laurels and only the third member of the Islanders baseball team.
FOLLOW ALONG
To keep up with the team this weekend, as well as updates throughout the season, be sure to follow the team on Twitter and Instagram (@IslandersBSB) and Facebook (Islanders Baseball).
