CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Behind a 3-for-4 day from senior Justin Perales and a combined four-hit performance on the mound, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi shutout the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley 3-0 Wednesday afternoon at Chapman Field.
The Islanders (15-29) produced all the damage in a three-run fourth inning sparked by Zack Gibson's leadoff triple. Perales singled him home two batters later for the eventual game-winning RBI. Perales' single was one of the senior's three knocks on the day, including his second triple of the season.
"I thought we strung some together in the fourth," said head coach Scott Malone. "We had a lot of quality at-bats there back-to-back-to-back. We put a bunt down and put some pressure on them and they didn't make the play. That's college baseball right now, 'who can handle a bunt and not panic?'. They panicked, forced a play and it let us get a three-spot."
On the mound, seven Islanders combined for the shutout, the third of the season for the Blue and Green. Aaron Hernandez picked up the win after tossing three hitless innings in relief. Hernandez also struck out three while allowing just a single baserunner.
"I thought our pitching was outstanding today," said Malone. "It starts with David Worrell who came out and walked the first three hitters of the game. I don't know if I've ever seen that before. We were probably one pitch away from pulling him but we let him have a little more rope to try to minimize his inning and he ends up getting out of it without a run. Then Aaron Hernandez set the tone for the rest of the day with just one baserunner in three innings."
The Islander pitching staff carried a no-hit bid into the sixth inning, before UTRGV's Cole Loncar singled with two outs. The feat, and the shutout, were especially impressive considering the start.
Worrell loaded the bases in the top of the first with three consecutive walks. The rookie righted the ship with a strikeout before inducing a pop up and fly ball to escape the inning unscathed.
Hernandez (3-4) took over in the second, retiring the first two men he faced before catching Isaac Gonzales with a 3-2 pitch on the hand. From there, the freshman retired the next seven Vaqueros (18-22) to cap off his outing and earn the win.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Islanders struck for the game's only runs as four hits led to the three-spot. Gibson opened with his triple down the right field line before Nick Anderson drew a walk. Perales singled on a chopper over the third baseman's head to plate Gibson for the game's first run.
On a sacrifice bunt attempt from Scott Balfantz, UTRGV third baseman Scott Mercer fielded the ball and threw wildly to third to allow another run to cross. Jozwiak capped the scoring with his RBI single to left as nine Islanders came to the plate in the inning.
Kyle Carroll, Austin Cornish, Caleb Hanks and Garrett Harris each threw one inning a piece in the combined shutout. Carroll did not allow a hit while striking out a pair while Harris also fanned two Vaqueros.
In the ninth, Nolan Holland became the seventh pitcher of the game for the Islanders as the junior worked around a 1-out single to complete the shutout and earn his fifth save.
WEEKEND WELCOMES SAM HOUSTON
The Islanders will return to Chapman Field Friday, Saturday and Sunday to face Sam Houston State. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday.
