CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Right-handed starter
Cole Carter went seven strong innings and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi scored four times in the first to clinch the series with a 5-4 victory over Southeastern Louisiana Saturday at Chapman Field.
The series victory over the Lions marks the first time the Islanders have toppled the perennial power since 2010. Carter was a big part, going seven deep while allowing three runs, only two of which were earned, on five hits. The junior fanned seven and kept the Lions (19-12, 7-7) off the board for the first five innings.
At the plate, the Islanders (13-19, 5-6) capitalized on early opportunities, plating four runs in the bottom of the first on four hits.
Dalton Stark and
Brett Burner led the effort at the plate with 2-for-4 days each as seven Islanders recorded a hit in the win. All four of Corpus Christi's RBI came from different players.
"I loved the way we pitched," said head coach
Scott Malone. "I thought we competed and pitched with a lot of guts. I think that's one of the two or three best teams in our league and we just kept getting in the zone and challenging their hitters. I thought
Cole Carter and then
Chris Cooper couldn't have been any better. I'm really proud of them."
After Carter stranded a runner at third in the top of the first, the Islanders went to work, scoring in the opening frame for the 17th time this season. Burner led the inning off with a single through the left side before moving to second on a sacrifice bunt.
Stark beat out an infield single to put runners on the corners before a
Jackson Owens chopper would plate the first run of the day. Owens would reach as the ball was mishandled by the SLU third baseman. The miscue opened the floodgates as
Dawson Yates followed with a sharply hit single up the middle to extend the advantage.
Itchy Burts would single to short to score another run and Owens would cross the plate as Southeastern shortstop Brennan Breaud attempted to throw behind him at third, but sailed it wide.
The 4-0 lead would hold through the fifth as Carter sat down 12 of the next 14 Lions he faced.
Southeastern Louisiana finally got to Carter in the sixth as Taylor Schwaner lifted a two-run, two-out shot to right field. The Lions had their first bit of momentum on the day, but Carter responded with one of his seven strikeouts.
Corpus Christi would answer right back, plating the eventual difference maker on
Harrison DiNicola's two-out double to right center. The knock allowed the speedy Burts to race all the way around from first.
After Southeastern Louisiana tacked on a single unearned run in the seventh, the Lions scored again and loaded the bases in the eighth. That's when
Chris Cooper came on from the bullpen in search of his second save in as many days.
Cooper immediately caught SLU catcher Evan Pace looking on a 1-2 pitch, painting the outside corner to end the threat.
In the ninth, Cooper sat the Lions down in order, inducing a pop-up before fanning a pair to earn the save.
The Islanders will go for the sweep behind senior
Devin Skapura in a 1 p.m. first pitch on Sunday afternoon.
