UTRGV Explodes Late to Down Islanders

EDINBURG, Texas – Early RBI from Dawson Yates, Dalton Stark and Cam Boudreaux drew Texas A&M-Corpus Christi level at 3-3, but UTRGV scored the next 10 runs of the game to run-rule the Islanders in the final South Texas Showdown presented by NavyArmy Community Credit Union matchup of the year.
 
Despite the loss Tuesday night, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi still earned the South Texas Showdown trophy, winning the inaugural year of the rivalry series 36-21. The series pitted the Islanders and Vaqueros against one another in every mutual sport.
 
UTRGV opened the scoring on the night, capitalizing on an Islander error in the second. With one out and a runner at first, a comebacker to the hill appeared a tailor-made double play but Devin Skapura's throw got away at second to put runners at the corners. A groundout to second scored the opening run, an unearned marker.
 
The Islanders answered right back in the top of the fourth as Dawson Yates scored the first run of the game for Corpus Christi. Yates tripled to wall in left center field with two away in the inning before scampering home on Cullen Jozwiak's RBI bunt single.
 
The 1-1 draw was short-lived as UTRGV scored single runs in the third and fourth frames to take a 3-1 advantage.
 
Again, the Islanders had an answer as the Blue and Green plated a pair on two hits. Dalton Stark picked up an RBI with his single through the right side while Cam Boudreaux forced a run across with a bases-loaded, full-count walk.
 
In the bottom half of the fifth, UTRGV struck the big blow of the night as the Vaqueros hung three on the board. After chasing reliever Chris Glover with a run on two hits, Jose Garcia took the first pitch from Korey Rasure and drove it over the left field wall for a two-run shot and a 6-3 UTRGV lead.
 
The Vaqueros would add a pair more on in the sixth to extend the lead to 8-3. Anthony Gomez doubled down the left field line to provide the damage.
 
UTRGV ended the game early in the seventh as the Vaqueros would score five times on just three hits. Conrad McMahon's three-run double down the right field line provided the final marker as UTRGV claimed a 13-3 victory.
 
Chris Glover was saddled with the loss, allowing three runs in two innings. Five different Islanders work in relief on Tuesday night as the bullpen was tagged for 12 of the 13 runs.
 
WEEKEND WORK
 
The Islanders will travel to Lake Charles, La., to take on Southland Conference frontrunner McNeese over the weekend. All nine of the Islanders' remaining games come in Southland play.