CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – New Orleans completed a sweep of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi is a Saturday doubleheader as the Islanders dropped the twin bill 4-2 and 9-6.
The Islanders (13-26, 4-14) were swept for the second time in Southland Conference play and have now dropped five straight series. New Orleans (24-15, 9-9), meanwhile, solidified its grip on one of the top eight spots in the Southland with its first sweep of the season.
GAME ONE | Islanders 2 - New Orleans 4 | Box Score
The Privateers led coast-to-coast in the opening game of Saturday's doubleheader. New Orleans jumped right out to an early lead, using four hits to spark a 3-run top of the first inning.
A first-pitch single set the table for the big inning as Aaron Palmer roped the first offering of the ball game into center field. After a failed pick off moved him to second, Palmer scored on Dakota Dean's single two batters later.
A double down the left field line along with an infield single turned the frame into an immediate 3-run lead.
Much like Friday night, the Islanders had chances to begin chipping away. In the bottom of the second, the Blue and Green placed two aboard with just one out but again the big hit eluded the Islanders. In the fifth, the Islanders pulled back their first run by capitalizing on a leadoff double from Cullen Jozwiak. After the two-bagger, a pair of ground balls to second plated Jozwiak with Casey Thomas picking up the RBI.
With the lead cut to two, the Islanders appeared right back in the game, but a seventh-inning turned into an unearned run which extended the lead once more. A bounding ball up the middle saw the Islanders go to second for a force out, but then the Blue and Green tried to create a double play out of nothing and the throw to first sailed away allowing a Privateer to score from second on the play.
The Islanders stirred up a late rally, pouncing on a Privateer error to score an unearned run in the ninth. After Brian Deaver singled to open the frame, Jozwiak rolled a tailor-made double play ball to third but Dean's throw to second was misfired into right field. A batter later, Brett Burner plated Deaver on a ground ball to first as the Islanders brought the tying run to the plate.
For a second straight day, Daniel Martinez was able to pick up a save, earning his ninth of the season by slamming the door with a punchout and fly ball to end the game.
On the hill for the Islanders, Devin Skapura (2-6) took the loss despite producing a quality start. Skapura allowed four runs, three earned in seven innings. The right-hander fanned four while walking one and scattering nine hits.
GAME TWO | Islanders 6 – New Orleans 9 | Box Score
In game two of the doubleheader, a seesaw affair took a turn south in the eight as New Orleans scored three runs to break a 6-6 deadlock on just one hit and five walks.
The three runs would hold up as the difference makes as the Islander bullpen struggled to find the zone. All nine Privateers stepped to the plate in the inning with the lone hit being a 1-out double by Ryan Calloway. From their, a combination of Garrett Harris (2-1), who took the loss, Aaron Hernandez and Nolan Holland walked five batters, including three to force in runs before Chris Cooper came on to induce an inning-ending ground ball.
The nightcap was certainly not bereft of drama as after falling behind 1-0 in the third, the Islanders rallied through a tough break to take their first lead of the game.
Leading off in the inning, Brett Burner chopped a ball straight down, appearing to catch his foot as the Islander immediately crumpled to the ground in pain, but, no call was made and New Orleans threw to first and recorded an out to open the inning.
Still, the tough break did not stop the Islanders who capitalized on four walks to score a pair of runs. With the bases loaded, senior Justin Perales drove home his first of two runs with an RBI-single to center. Two batters later, Jozwiak drew a walk to force in another and give the Blue and Green its first lead of the series.
Another bases-loaded walk would extend the Islander lead in the fourth, before the lead changed hands for the next four half-innings.
New Orleans struck for three runs in the fifth to retake a 1-run lead. The frame chased David Worrell who was replaced by Harris. The Islanders had an answer though, as singles from Jozwiak and Zack Gibson sparked a 2-run bottom of the fifth to make it 5-4 on a sac fly and ground out.
In the top of the sixth, New Orleans took it right back, scoring twice on an error, walk and a single to stake a 6-5 advantage. Yet again, the Islanders were up to the challenge as Perales uncorked a rocket to dead center field for his first home run of the season.
In just one pitch, the game was tied at 6-6.
But, the Islanders would not score again, stranding runners at second and third in the seventh before the decisive 3-run eighth from New Orleans.
MIDWEEK MEETINGS
The Islanders will resume play Tuesday at UTSA before a Wednesday date at Hosuton following last week's rainout.
