CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – An error in the top of the sixth spoiled an otherwise solid start from
Devin Skapura as Texas A&M-Corpus Christi dropped the series opener against Northwestern State 6-3 Friday night at Chapman Field.
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The Islanders (7-15, 0-4) jumped to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first and extended the advantage to 3-0 in the bottom of the fifth. It all changed with two outs in the top of the sixth.
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After retiring the first two batters of the inning on just three pitches, Skapura (1-3) allowed back-to-back singles. Matthew Alford drew a walk on a 3-2 count to load the bases as Northwestern State (6-14, 2-2) threatened for the first time.
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Skapura then induced a ground ball to second, but the ball bounded away allowing a pair of runs to score. The Demons added another pair with a single to tally four runs, all unearned, in the frame.
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Northwestern State went on to add single runs in the seventh and eighth inning to provide a three-run cushion.
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Skapura took the tough-luck loss despite a quality start on the mound. The senior went 6 2/3 innings allowing five runs, only one of which was earned, on seven hits. The right-hander struck out five while walking just two.
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Nathan Jones (2-3) earned the win for Northwestern State, settling in after allowing two runs in the first to allow just a single unearned marker the rest of the night. Jones went eight innings, limiting the Islanders to six hits before handing the game over to Kyle Swanson.
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Swanson pitched a perfect ninth to earn his second save of the season.
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IMPACT INNINGS
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Bottom 1
>> Â The Islanders scored a pair to take the early lead as
Dalton Stark opened the scoring with an RBI-single.
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Top 6
>> Trailing 3-0, Northwestern State capitalized on the Islanders' only error of the game as the Demons scored four unearned.
>> Kelsey Richard singled home a pair following the error.
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THE NUMBERS
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Cam Boudreaux was the only Islander with multiple hits, going 2-for-3 with a run scored.
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Chris Cooper worked 1 2/3 scoreless innings in relief.
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SATURDAY SLATE
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The Islanders and Demons return to Chapman Field for game two of the series on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.
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