CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Itchy Burts had a pair of RBI-singles while
Dustin Lacaze and
Chris Cooper combined to limit Southeastern Louisiana to just six hits on the night as Texas A&M-Corpus Christi scratched out a 3-2 win in the series opener.
Lacaze (2-0) made his first Friday night start a memorable outing, earning the win on the mound. The right-hander surrendered just two runs, both unearned, in six stellar innings. The redshirt freshman pitched to contact, striking out just one Lion on the night, but also issued just a single free pass.
With Lacaze holding Southeastern Louisiana (19-11, 7-6) in check, the bottom of the Islander order produced just enough run support to edge out the Lions.
Brett Burner and
Jackson Owens served as table setters, each going 3-for-4, while Burts supplied the RBI.
You know what you're getting when Southeastern Louisiana comes to town," said head coach
Scott Malone. "You're getting one of the two or three best clubs in our league. They play great defense and you know they're going to pitch. I thought we scrapped from the beginning and we were throwing punches. Every time they would get a big hit, we'd come right back and get a big hit. I'm really proud of our guys for getting a huge win on a Friday night."
The Islanders (12-19, 4-6) spent the early innings playing from behind. SLU grabbed the early lead with a single run in the top of the first. After Jacob Seward singled, the Lion moved to second on a passed ball. The miscue allowed Seward to scamper home on Taylor Schwaner's double, which was cut off in the left center field gap.
It did not take long for the Blue and Green to draw level, however, as Burner singled and later scored on Burts' RBI-knock up the middle in the bottom of the second.
The Lions would regain the lead in the top of the fifth, capitalizing on a throwing error to eke out a run on just a single hit. Again, the Islanders had the answer in the form of Burts.
Owens opened the frame by scorching a one-out double off the left field wall. Burts followed with another RBI-single, driving the first pitch he saw from SLU ace Mac Sceroler (5-1) right back into center field. Corpus Christi was not done, though, using another single from
Brian Deaver and a pair of walks to score the eventual game-winner.
With a full count and two outs,
Cullen Jozwiak watched the Sceroler's offering sail high and wide to force in Burts from third.
A year after Sceroler shutout the Islanders on just two hits, the Blue and Green tagged the ace for his first loss of the season with three runs on 10 hits.
Out of the bullpen,
Chris Cooper earned the save with a masterful three innings of work. The right-hander never allowed the Lions to put the tying run in scoring position and fanned six in three innings. To cap the night, Cooper recorded all three outs in the ninth via the K, working around a two-out single for his second save of the season.
The Islanders and Lions will continue the series with a 4 p.m. first pitch on Saturday afternoon. On the docket to pitch for the Islanders is junior
Cole Carter.
