CORPUS CHRISTI - Kyle Danford's four-hit day wasn't enough as the Islanders baseball team fell to UTSA, 4-3, at Chapman Field in
its first midweek game of the year.
Danford, a senior from Bryan, Texas started the game off on the right foot, singling home Tyler Ware in the first to give the Islanders the early 1-0 lead.
The lead didn't last long though, as UTSA used a three-run second inning to take a 3-1 advantage. The frame was marred by two Islanders errors which led to a pair of runs for the visitors. Patchy fog throughout the game gave both team fits. The second started with a pop-up by Matt Hilson, just behind second base that fell in for a hit after the Islanders lost the ball in the fog. Hilson rounded second and was tagged out on a heads up play by second baseman Brett Burner.
Geonte Jackson singled up the middle in the following at bat, later advancing to second on a wild pitch. Jackson scored on a C.J. Pickering double to left to mark the first earned run for senior Matt Danton on the year. Two infield errors allowed both Skyler Valentine and Pickering to make their way around the bases to score.
The Roadrunners (7-5) added another run in the third to make it a 4-1 game as John Bormann scored on a fielders choice.
A&M-Corpus Christi would answer though in the bottom of the third as Danford connected on a ball, driving in both Casey Thomas who reached on a fielders choice and Jordan Lee who doubled to right center.
That would be all the Islanders would push across as UTSA's Logan Onda pitched six and a third scoreless innings in relief to pick up the win. Onda struck out six batters and allowed four hits in his outing.
The Islanders from the start, had its rotation on set schedules to get work in before hitting the road this weekend due to three of its four scheduled games over the weekend against UT-Arlington being rained out. Danton, who started the game took the loss for the squad.
Burner was 2-for-4 in the contest while Lee and Ware picked up two hits each.
The Islanders will hit the road for the first time this season as the team travels to Ruston, La. for a three-game series with Louisiana Tech beginning Friday.
For updates throughout the season be sure to follow the team on Twitter and Instagram (@IslandersBSB) and Facebook (Islanders Baseball). Fans can also receive updates on the team by downloading the Islanders Front Row App at GoIslanders.com/frontrow.
