Games 1-3: Texas A&M-Corpus Christi vs. Chicago State
Corpus Christi, Texas • Chapman Field
Friday, Feb. 19 • 6:30 p.m. • Islanders Digital Network (Video)
Saturday, Feb. 20 • 1 p.m. • Islanders Digital Network (Audio)
Sunday, Feb. 21 • 1 p.m. • Islanders Digital Network (Video)
GAME NOTES (PDF)
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – The Spring-like weather has been in place for the better part of a month in South Texas and Friday, America's Pasttime returns to Chapman Field as Texas A&M-Corpus Christi opens the 2016 campaign against Chicago State.
A new look Islanders squad looks to climb the Southland Conference standings in the ninth season under head coach Scott Malone. The Blue and Green finished the 2015 season 26-27 and 13-14 in the Southland, good for eighth in the league.
LEADING OFF
• After running to a semifinal appearance in the 2015 Southland Conference Tournament, the Islanders open the 2016 campaign picked eighth in the league.
• The Islanders return four position starters from the end of 2015, including breakout star Zacarias Hardy in left field.
• The Blue and Green will also welcome the return of center fielder Zack Gibson who missed all of last season due to a neck injury.
• The Islanders lost 11 seniors off the 2015 squad but welcome 18 newcomers to the fray including five JUCO transfers who figure to make immediate impacts.
• Despite the 11 seniors lost, the Islanders should start all juniors or seniors on opening night.
• The Islanders are 12-4 all-time on opening night and have won five of their past seven season opening series.
SCOUTING CHICAGO STATE
• Chicago State is coming off a 13-40-1 campaign in the 2015 season. The Cougars finished 6-19 in the WAC and were just 3-23-1 away from home.
• Sophomore catcher Cody Freund is the leading returner for the Cougars after hitting .312 in his freshman season.
• Andy Gertonson returns the most RBI on the Chicago State squad, driving in 27 in 2015. Gertonson hit just .234 on the campaign.
• Junior Jake Perkins is the only weekend starter who returns from last season's squad. Perkins finished 2015 at 1-5 with a 4.20 ERA in 75 innings of work. Opponents hit .265 off the southpaw.
• Sophomore Zach Thomas returns after making 27 appearances in 2015, the most by any Chicago State pitcher last season.
• The Cougars are looking to improve on the bump after finishing the 2015 season ranked 260 out of 295 Division I schools in ERA with a 6.25 team ERA.
• In just his fourth season at the helm in Chicago, Steve Joslyn already holds the third most wins by any coach in program history.
UP NEXT
Following the opening weekend, the Islanders will return to Chapman Field Tuesday afternoon to host Houston Baptist in a non-conference matchup.
