CORPUS CHRISTI - Sophomore Devin Skapura tossed one of his best games of the year as the
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi baseball team picked up a 2-1 series finale victory over Northwestern State Sunday afternoon at Chapman Field.
Skapura, a Kingwood, Texas native went six complete, allowing only four hits and one run on his way to his third win of the year. The right-hander retired 11 straight batters from the third inning all the way through the sixth. The four hits allowed matched a season low.
The Islanders (20-19, 10-11 SLC) picked up Skapura early, pushing across a run in the first inning after Jordan Lee led the game off with a single up the middle. Later in the inning, Lee broke the school record for stolen bases, previously held by Jeramie Marek (2009-12), after swiping second for his 43rd career steal before moving to third on throwing error.
Senior Tyler Ware lined a ball down to first base that deflected off the fielders' glove and headed to the outfield allowing Lee to score and make it a 1-0 lead for the Islanders.
Northwestern State would go stagnate on offense as Skapura methodically retired the Demons through the middle innings. Skapura let his defense work behind him, only striking out just one batter on the day. Sunday also marked the first time in five games that the Islanders would play an error-free game.
A&M-Corpus Christi added an insurance run in the fourth inning after Ware led off the frame with a single to his counterpart out in center field. Zacarias Hardy then went on to single out to left for one of his three hits on the day. The sophomore finished the series 6-for-11 with three runs scored.
Justin Perales hit into a fielders choice later to score Ware from third to make it a 2-0 contest.
Throughout the day, Northwestern State (24-18, 16-7 SLC) was able to put runners on base, but timely defensive plays stymied the NSU offense as the Islanders turned a season high three double plays.
After the Islanders took the lead in the first, NSU quickly started the second with a leadoff walk and a double to put runners on second and third with no outs, but Skapura and the Islanders worked their way out of the inning and crushed the spirit of the Demons after turning an unconventional 3-2 double play.
Nick Heath chopped the ball to first base where Perales made a play and threw the ball home to tag out the runner from third. Lukas Hermanson made the tag on Heath who was standing in the batters box, claiming the ball hit off of his foot foul.
Northwestern State rallied in the seventh, but relief pitcher Nolan Holland was able to come in and record a strikeout. The Demons would get one run as Caleb Dugas singled through the right side for their only run of the game. The Islanders would end the threat as Brett Burner took care of a ball hit to the middle of the infield, turning the 4-3 double play.
Jacob Dorris would come into the game for the two-inning save, his seventh of the year. The senior from Weatherford, Texas struck out 4-of-6 batters he saw sitting the Demons down in order for two frames.
Jeffrey Stovall took the loss for the Demons falling to 4-4 on the year.
The team has a quick turnaround as they will finish a four-game series with Texas-Pan American on Tuesday at Chapman Field. The two teams split a doubleheader in Edinburg, Texas earlier in the year. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.
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.
