NEW ORLEANS - The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi baseball team saw its six-game win streak come to an end after splitting the final two games against Privateers Sunday afternoon at Maestri Field in New Orleans.
The first game of the day was the continuation of Saturday's suspended contest. The Islanders picked up the 10-4 win to open the day, but dropped the series finale to UNO, 2-0 thanks in part to a complete game shutout by New Orleans' Shawn Semple.
Game One: Islanders 10, Privateers 4
Tyler Ware jumpstarted the Islanders offense in the fourth inning as he lined a ball to right field for a one-out double. Heads up base running allowed Ware to move up a base on a fly ball. Sophomore catcher Lukas Hermanson, as he did in the series opener Friday, delivered a clutch RBI single to score Ware from third and give the Islanders the early lead.
New Orleans would answer in the bottom of the fourth though, as the Privateers strung together five-consecutive singles on their way to a three-run inning. Cameron Hoffman entered the game to pinch hit and he delivered the game-tying run on a single. With the bases loaded, Parker Jones drove a ball deep to left center to score two runs and cap off the UNO scoring threat.
A&M-Corpus Christi did not wait too long to get the offense going again as they took the lead in the top of the sixth. Junior first baseman Justin Perales hit his second home run of the year as he sent a ball deep over the left field wall to cut the Privateer lead to 3-2. It was the first homer for the Corpus Christi, Texas native since the Kleberg Classic.
Redshirt sophomore Brandon Guilford continued the Islanders threat as he singled through the right side of the infield to score Hermanson from second. Guilford, a McKinney, Texas native showed his skills on the bases as he advanced to second on a wild pitch and later advanced to third on a fly ball. Junior shortstop Casey Thomas would deliver the go-ahead run on an RBI groundout to the pitcher to cap off the inning.
A&M-Corpus Christi started the seventh with consecutive singles, including a perfectly executed hit-and-run by Zacarias Hardy. Perales would pick up his second and third RBI of the game on a single to right field.
When play resumed Sunday, the Islanders didn't waste any time as Hermanson started off with a standup RBI triple to push the lead to 7-3.
UNO would pick up a run in the bottom of the seventh on a wild pitch. New Orleans would try to close the gap even more with runners on first and second as a ball was hit out to right field, but Kyle Danford gunned down Sam Carriere at home plate to end the inning.
After coming in as a defensive sub in the seventh inning, Brett Burner delivered a bloop single in his first plate appearance, extending the Islanders lead once again. The team was not finished as they added two more in the ninth to make it a 10-4 game.
With UNO leading 3-1 after the fourth inning, the islanders outscored the home team 9-1 to finish the contest.
Trevor Belicek picked up the win (7-2) after going six complete and giving up only three runs. The senior left-hander struck out five and did not allow a walk. Nolan Holland went two innings in relief while senior Tyler Schnuriger shut the door on the Privateers.
A&M-Corpus Christi continued to hit the ball well Sunday morning and set a new season-high with 21 hits. Five Islanders recorded three base hits. Hermanson picked up just his second extra-base hit of the year on a triple while Ware went for a double and Perales sent a ball over the left field fence.
Game Two: Privateers 2, Islanders 0
New Orleans scored one run in the first inning and never looked back as Semple threw a complete game shutout in his first action in over a month.
With two outs in the top of the inning, UNO's Jonathan Coco doubled into left center field to give the Privateers their first hit. In the very next at bat, Preston Marsh would deliver what would be the go-ahead run singling to left.
That would be all UNO would need to pick up their first in of the series. Several balls by the Islanders were hit hard, but they seemed to be hit right at a waiting defender.
A&M-Corpus Christi would make their best run at Semple in the sixth inning, putting runners on first and second after Burner started the inning with a single. New Orleans looked to turn a double play the next batter, but the shortstop could not control the ball as Burner moved up to second and Hermanson reached on the fielders choice.
Thomas would send a chopper down the third base line that would be corralled by the third baseman Parker Jones who would step on third and throw to first to end the threat.
Devin Skapura took the loss for the Islanders after allowing two runs in five complete. One bright spot from the finale was the performance by senior right-hander Jacob Dorris. The Weatherford, Texas native went three innings for the Islanders, striking out three.
The Islanders will continue their road swing with a trip to San Antonio Tuesday to take on the Roadrunners of UTSA. That game is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. at Roadrunner Field.
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.
