SAN ANTONIO – A seven-run sixth inning sparked by Zack Gibson's 2-run home run propelled Texas A&M-Corpus Christi to a blowout, 12-4 win over UTSA Wednesday night at Roadrunner Field.
RELATED: Box Score
After a slow start and three consecutive double plays to end scoring threats, the Islanders (14-26) turned a 3-0 deficit into a 7-3 lead with the monstrous inning. The Blue and Green sent 13 men to the plate in the inning that lasted three-quarters of an hour, scoring the seven runs on just three hits while five men reached via the free pass.
The first couple of innings were a struggle," said head coach Scott Malone. "It felt like we on a treadmill running straight uphill like we have been all season. We finally break the game through with a big hit from Gibson. Obviously, he's been pressing, but tonight he gets that big hit to knock the wall down. Everybody relaxed and we started getting big hits.
"I thought we were outstanding defensively," said Malone. "I thought that was as much the story of the game as anything else. We were really moving around out there and taking some hits away from those guys."
Justin Perales and Zacarias Hardy each had three RBI games as five different Islanders drove in multiple runs. Hardy finished 2-for-4 with a double while Brett Burner had a big day as well, going 3-for-5 out of the seven hole with a pair of runs pushed across. At the top of the order, Casey Thomas turned an 0-for-2 start into a 3-for-5 night with two RBI.
"I thought Brett Burner was a spark," said Malone. "Guy's been hitting ninth for two weeks, jumps up two spots tonight and got cranking. It was nice to see. CT had big hits, Hardy had big hits again, Perales had quality at-bats all night."
On the night, the Islanders drew a remarkable 12 walks, tying the school record last done in 2008, as all 10 men who hit during the course of the game took a jaunt to first. The massive walk total helped the Islanders score their dozen runs on just 11 hits.
The game didn't always look bright for the Blue and Green. UTSA (14-25) built a 3-0 lead through four innings thanks to a run in the third and two in the fourth. The Roadrunners opened the scoring after a pair of walks in the third and a 2-out single. The opening run was the only charged to starter Garrett Harris who worked 2 1/3 innings without a hit.
UTSA broke open the 3-run advantage with three base knocks in the fourth off Chris Falwell, but the lead stood no chance of holding.
After three consecutive innings ended with the Islanders hitting into a double play, the Blue and Green avoided the inning killer and instead spun the merry-go-around into high gear. It started with Nick Anderson being hit with a 3-1 pitch. Gibson followed with his no-doubter, a towering home run to right field, cutting the lead to 3-2. For Gibson, it was his sixth round tripper of the season.
The Islanders capitalized on free passes with a 2-run single from Thomas, 2-run double from Hardy and finally a RBI walk from Perales. 45 minutes later, the Islanders had flipped a 3-run deficit into a 4-run lead.
A&M-Corpus Christi never looked back. The Islanders added two more runs in the eighth as Burner roped a single into single field, sending it careening off the leg of pitch Trent Rosipal. In the ninth, a Hardy single tacked on another before Perales mashed a 2-run double to right center.
The 12 runs for the Islanders mark the third time the Islanders have hung a dozen on the board this season.
On the mound, Austin Cornish earned his first career win, working a scoreless inning prior to the 7-run frame.
UP NEXT
The Islanders will continue on the road as they head to Natchitoches, La. to face Northwestern State over the weekend.
