Explosion in the Eighth

CORPUS  CHRISTI, Texas – The 778 fans who packed Chapman Field on opening night were treated to quite the display of fireworks as Texas A&M-Corpus Christi used a 6-run eighth inning to rally past Bradley 10-7 Friday.

"Huge roller coaster," said 10th-year skipper Scott Malone. "I think we went through every emotion of the 56-game season we're about to have – we did it in one night. I'm really proud of the guys – the heart, the passion, the effort. Two seniors get pinch-hit for in the middle of the game and they're the ones leading the focus, leading the cheering and keeping everyone dialed in. That's what I take away from this one. Could we play better? Yea, we could, but man what a comeback at the end."
 
Sam Mahofski was hit by a pitch to lead off the explosive eighth and two walks followed to load the base with no outs for the Islanders (1-0). Freshman Dalton Stark laced an RBI-single up the middle, scoring pinch-runner Itchy Burts and the comeback was on.
 
Cullen Jozwiak drew a bases loaded walk to cut the deficit to 7-6 before senior Brian Deaver ripped the first pitch he saw back through the box for a 2-run single to give the Islanders the lead. After a wild pitch plated Jozwiak, the Islanders capped their scoring with a perfect squeeze bunt from Scott Balfantz.
 
Once trailing 6-2, the Islanders headed to the ninth with a 10-7 advantage. After a leadoff single for Luke Mangieri chased reliever David Worrell, the Blue and Green's new closer, Cole Carter, got his first save opportunity of the season on opening night.
 
Carter opened his debut with a punchout of Jean-Francois Garon on a 3-2 pitch. Following a walk to put two aboard, Carter induced two fly balls, one to right and one to second base, to earn his first save as an Islander.
 
Worrell (1-0) picked up the win in relief, going 1 1/3 shutout innings. Devin Skapura earned the start for the Blue and Green and went 5 2/3 allowing six runs, only three of which were earned. Skapura struck out a trio of Braves on the night.
 
Ben Cilano (0-1) took the loss for Bradley, facing three batters who all came around to score.
 
IMPACT INNINGS
 
BOTTOM 1
>> Cullen Jozwiak sent chalk flying with a RBI-double down the right field line to score Dawson Yates for the season's first run.
 
TOP 3
>> An Islanders error led to three unearned runs for Bradley as the Braves staked a 4-1 lead.
>> Jean-Francois Garon capped the inning with a 2-run home run for Bradley.
 
BOTTOM 8
>> A hit-by-pitch and two walks load the bases for the Islanders with no outs.
>> Dalton Stark and Brian Deaver picked up RBI knocks with Deaver's being of the 2-run variety.
>> Scott Balfantz laid down a beautiful squeeze bunt down the first base line to score Deaver to make it 10-7.

And just like that it's 9-7 Islanders! pic.twitter.com/o7OtUUrnuW

— Islanders Baseball (@IslandersBSB) February 18, 2017

 
HOT HITTING
 
The Islanders collected 13 hits on the night with four different players recording multi-hit games.
 
>> Nkosi Djehuti-Mes put on a show, finishing 2-for-5 with an RBI. The newcomer crushed a double and triple in his debut.
>> Senior Cullen Jozwiak went 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI, a double and added a walk to a stellar day at the plate.
>> Nick Anderson was 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI on the evening.
>> It might not have been pretty, but senior Dawson Yates went 2-for-5 with a pair of infield singles and three runs scored.
 
 
SATURDAY SLATE
 
The Islanders look to clinch the series Saturday at noon behind newcomer Korey Rasure on the mound.