CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A seven run seventh from New Orleans proved too much for Texas A&M-Corpus Christi to overcome as the Islanders dropped the opening game of the Southland series with the Privateers 7-3.
The loss leaves the Islanders (13-24, 4-12) chasing a series win in a doubleheader on Saturday as expected weather on Sunday has forced the two teams into a 2 p.m. twin bill.
The Privateers (22-15, 7-9) scored all seven of their runs in the decisive second inning. Islander starter Chris Falwell (2-4) opened the frame by hitting the first two batters, including the leadoff man in 1-2 count. That sparked the big inning as the Privateers used five singles and another walk to plate the seven runs.
"I think Chris will be the first one to tell you he had a bad inning," said head coach Scott Malone. "Two free passes to start and from there they put together five hits and another walk. That's how you draw it up. That's how you beat guys and put them away. They put pressure on our offense to get us back in the game, start chipping away. We've seen people due it to us and we kept getting people on base, but couldn't get the big hit."
The massive frame was more than enough cushion for Privateer starter Shawn Semple (5-3) who scattered 11 hits to limit the Islanders to three runs, just one of which was earned. Semple struck out just three in his 7 2/3 innings of work but did not issue a free pass.
For the Islanders, the big inning created a big hole, but the Blue and Green had its fair share of chances to chip away. In each of the next three frames, the Islanders moved a runner to third, but stranded him there. The three potential runs proved to be difference makers as the Islanders would strike for single runs in each the sixth, seventh and eight innings.
The Blue and Green got on the board in the sixth as Dawson Yates reached on an error with two away. Yates came around to score following singles from Scott Balfantz and Brian Deaver. Balftantz finished with a 3-for-4 night at the plate including his second double of the season.
An inning later, Casey Thomas ripped a ball into the right center field gap and raced around for his fifth triple of the season. The three-bagger tied Thomas for the team lead and he scored on a passed ball the next pitch.
Yates crossed the plate for a second time as he uncorked a monstrous home run to right center in the eighth. The blast was Yates' second of the year and capped a 2-for-4 day which included a double as well.
The Islanders were never able to pull any closer, as Daniel Martinez came out of the bullpen to record the final four outs for his eighth save of the season.
For all the second inning struggles, Falwell buckled down and got the Islanders through eight innings. While it was in no means a banner day, the gritty effort did save the Islanders bullpen from extensive work. Falwell finished with 10 strikeouts while his ERA jumped to 2.88 with the seven earned runs.
"I'm really proud of Chris," said Malone. "He'll be the first one to tell you he let this one get away and lost the game, but he has grown so much over the past year. He was a junior college guy that was really grinding out an inning here or there and now he's going out every Friday night and throwing 105-plus pitches. This is the first one he let get away and I was really hoping our hitters would pick him up because we owed him one."
DOUBLEHEADER SATURDAY
Due to rain expected to impact the area on Sunday, the Islanders and Privateers will finish the series with a 2 p.m. doubleheader Saturday.
