CORPUS CHRISTI - It was all he could have asked for and more, as junior pitcher Garrett Harris threw seven complete innings,
allowing just two runs in his first career start as the Islanders defeated Missouri 3-2, at Whataburger Field in the opening game of the Kleberg Bank College Classic Thursday night.
"I almost want to tell you that's how you draw it up," head coach Scott Malone said. "The starting pitching is outstanding, I firmly believe we've got a wipe-out bullpen and the story tonight is in the hit column. Those are big, athletic SEC hitters. Man, I think we gave them all they wanted. - I'm really proud of our guys."
Jake Ring opened the game with a leadoff single up the middle to put Mizzou in the hit column, but hits would be few and far for the Tigers (4-1) throughout the night. Ring finished the game with two hits while second baseman Brett Peel accounted for the other.
The Islanders outhit Missouri 9-3, and held the Tigers' 3-4-5 batters to 0-for-11 on the night.
A&M-Corpus Christi came out swinging as senior Frankie Salas doubled to right-center to get things going for the Islanders in the bottom of the second. Sophomore Lukas Hermanson later reached on an infield single to score Salas from third and give the Islanders their first lead.
Mizzou didn't wait long to answer though, scoring two runs in the top of the third to take a 2-1 lead.
G. Harris showed his rust at times, walking four batters on the night, both of which scored the only runs for the Tigers in the third inning. After the third inning, Harris was able to slow down and maneuver through the Missouri lineup. The right-hander sat down eight of the last 10 batters he saw.
"I couldn't be happier, honestly," Harris said. "It's a huge deal for me."
The Islanders answered right back as they did all night as Tyler Ware reached base on a walk in the bottom of the third, followed by Cody Clarke singling to right field. Kyle Danford picked up an RBI on the next at bat, as he drove in Ware to tie the game at two apiece.
Ware finished 1-for-1 with three walks while Salas went 2-for-4 and scored a run.
Coming into the season, the Islanders had few questions in their lineup, except second base and catcher, both due to their youth. Youth did not mean much in this game as Brett Burner and Hermanson each played key roles in the victory. Burner started the fourth inning with a double and later scored the go-ahead run as Hermanson singled to right field for one of his two RBI's.
The Islanders will return to action on Friday when they continue the Kleberg Bank College Classic at Whataburger Field against Purdue at 7 p.m. The Classic will continue through Sunday with Missouri, Purdue and Sam Houston State all taking part in the action. For more information and tickets, click HERE.
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