CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Four errors and a six-run deficit proved too much for the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi baseball team to overcome on Tuesday night at Chapman Field. The Islanders (1-7) put three runs on the board in the later innings, but could not complete the rally, falling to UTSA 7-3.
The Roadrunners (5-3) scored a trio of unearned runs from the Islanders' four defensive miscues and picked up two more runs on a bases-loaded walk and hit-by-pitch.
UTSA opened a 6-0 lead with runs in each of the first five innings, as starting pitcher Steven Dressler kept the Blue and Green hitless through three.
Cullen Jozwiak went 3-for-5, sparking the Islanders with a leadoff double in the fourth.
In the bottom of the sixth, Corpus Christi cut the deficit by two, scoring on an error and an RBI groundout.
Dalton Stark shaved the lead with another run in the eighth, scoring on a dropped third strike wild pitch that turned into an error down at first during
Nick Anderson' at bat.
UTSA added an insurance run in the ninth to close out the game.
Corpus Christi tallied 10 hits for the fifth time this season, while UTSA picked up 13 base knocks.
Aaron Rhodes took the loss, giving up eight hits and five runs, two earned, with three strikeouts.
Korey Rasure and
Nolan Holland split four innings of work, before Jozwiak made the move to the mound in the ninth inning.
UTSA used four different pitchers, as Dressler took a no-decision after giving up just one hit with three punchouts in four innings of work. Karl Craigie earned the win, coming on in the fifth. Chris Muller tossed a seven-out save for the Roadrunners.
KEY INNINGS
TOP 2
>> Back-to-back singles by UTSA set up runners on first and third. A failed pickoff attempt enabled Aldo Buendia to trot home from third.
>> Skyler Valentine later drove in a run with a sacrifice fly.
BOTTOM 6
>> Small ball came in handy for the Islanders with back-to-back bunts from Jozwiak and
Itchy Burts.
>> After a passed ball advanced runners to second and third, Burts scored on a fielding error by the second baseman.
>>
Jackson Owens brought in Jozwiak from third on an RBI groundout to third.
BOTTOM 8
>> Stark opened the inning with a double down the line in left.
>> Anderson swung at a wild pitch that catcher Tony Beam could not catch for a third strike. Covering home, Muller sailed the throw to first, enabling Stark to come home.
AWAITING UT ARLINGTON
The Islanders face UT Arlington this weekend for a three-game series. Play begins on Friday at 6:30 p.m. and continues on Saturday at the same time, before the series finale on Sunday at 1 p.m.
