Sixth Inning Stalls Islanders

HUNTSVILLE, Texas – For the better part of five innings, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi led defending Southland Conference champion Sam Houston State, but a five-run sixth inning broke the game open as the Bearkats cruised to a 12-3 series-opening win Friday night at Don Sanders Stadium.
 
The Islanders (6-12, 0-1) raced out to an early lead after loading the bases with no outs in the top of the first. Facing preseason All-Southland First Team pitcher Heath Donica (4-1), Cullen Jozwiak jumpstarted the Islanders with a leadoff single. A&M-Corpus Christi would plate a pair of runs in the inning, capped by Dalton Stark's RBI-single to build a 2-0 lead.

After the Bearkats (13-5, 4-0) drew even in the second, the Islanders regained the lead in the fourth sparked by a Scott Balfantz double.
 
The game took a turn in the bottom of the fifth when Sam Houston State claimed its first lead of the night. After a 2-out single tied the game, Andrew Fregia rolled a ground ball to short, but the throw to first was off the mark, allowing another run to score.
 
The next inning, the Bearkats exploded for five runs on six hits, building a 9-3 cushion. Sam Houston State would tack on another three markers in the seventh for the 12-3 final.
 
Devin Skapura (1-2) was saddled with the loss for the Islanders. The right-hander allowed seven runs, six earned, on eight hits in five innings. Dustin Lacaze was charged with five earned runs in relief, working 1 2/3 out of the bullpen.
 
Brett Burner led the Islanders at the plate with a 3-for-4 night. Jozwiak continued his scorching start to the season with a 2-for-4 day with a run scored.
 
IMPACT INNINGS
 
Top 1
>> Cullen Jozwiak opened the game with a single before a hit batter and walk loaded the bases for the Islanders.
>> Nick Anderson drew a bases loaded walk to plate the first run.
>> Dalton Stark made it 2-0 with an RBI single through the left side of the infield.
 
Bottom 2
>> Riley McKnight drove a 2-out, 2-run double to left center to draw Sam Houston State level at 2-2.
>> The Bearkats used three hits in the frame to produce the two runs.
 
Top 4
>> Scott Balfantz opened the inning with a double and advanced to third on Brett Burner's single.
>> Balfantz scored on a wild pitch, putting the Islanders up 3-2.
 
Bottom 5
>> A walk, single and error turned into two runs as Sam Houston State claimed its first lead of the day.
>> Again, both runs came with two outs for the Bearkats.
 
Bottom 6
>> Sam Houston State used six hits to score five times, extending its lead to 9-3.
 
SERIES CONTINUES
 
The Islanders will look to level the series Saturday afternoon in a 3 p.m. first pitch with the Bearkats. Chris Cooper is scheduled to get the ball for the Blue and Green.