CORPUS CHRISTI - The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi baseball team improved to 5-0 on the season after defeating Purdue, 6-2, Friday
night at Whataburger Field in game three of the Kleberg Bank College Classic. The Islanders improve to 3-1 all-time against the Boilermakers and are off to their best start since 2011.
Matt Danton allowed three hits in the first two innings but settled down and finished the night giving up just seven total as he tossed eight innings to pick up his first win of the year for the Islanders. The right-hander struck out six batters while not allowing a baserunner via the walk. Purdue scored its only runs in the eighth, both unearned due to a passed ball.
The Islanders scored the scored first for the second consecutive night. A&M-Corpus Christi picked up a run in both the second and third to put the pressure on Purdue's Mike Kornacker, a freshman, pitching for the first time this season.
Kornacker went a shaky two innings before being replaced by Gavin Downs. It didn't get any better for the Boilermakers (1-3) as the Islanders offense exploded for four runs in the fifth, forcing another change on the mound. Purdue used five different arms in the game, with just Downs going more than two innings.
The bats were alive again for the home squad tonight, as the Islanders outhit the Boilermakers 10-7 on the night. Jordan Lee led the team with three hits, going 3-for-4 in the game. Junior transfer Casey Thomas was the only other Islander to tally more than one hit, finishing with two, including a double which drove in two runs in the fifth.
Senior Tyler Ware finished with two RBI's on a single in the fifth. Scott Balfantz made his first career start behind the plate for the Islanders, going 1-for-1 with a walk and a hit-by-pitch to his credit. Zach Metzger caught the final two innings for the Islanders.
Senior Tyler Schnuriger saw his first action of 2015, closing out the game for the Islanders.
Kyle Johnson paced the Boilermakers on the night, finishing 2-for-4 with two RBI's.
The Islanders will return to action on Saturday when they continue the Kleberg Bank College Classic at Whataburger Field against Missouri at 7 p.m. The Classic will continue through Sunday with Missouri, Purdue and Sam Houston State all taking part in the action.
For updates throughout the season be sure to follow the team on Twitter and Instagram (@IslandersBSB) and Facebook (Islanders Baseball).
