Islanders Run-Rule UHV For Sixth Straight Win

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - As they've done so many times this year, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi took the early advantage during the first inning of Wednesday afternoon's contest with Houston-Victoria, on the way to a sixth straight win. Putting up 10 runs through seven innings, the Islanders secured victory by run-rule on the afternoon, improving their overall record on the year to 7-1.

First baseman Harrison DiNicola would get the party started for the Blue and Green, lifting a two-run homer to right field with teammate Itchy Burts sitting at first. Recently named Southland Conference Player of the Week, Andriud Martinez continued the Islanders scoring in the opening frame on an RBI-single, before stealing second and crossing home on a Scott Balfantz knock. 

Corpus Christi went on to score five runs in the first inning to improve their record to 6-0 when scoring in the opening frame this year, as all nine Islander players stepped into the box to start the contest. The onslaught would continue in the second as Jackson Owens shot his first triple of 2018 off the center field wall, while giving the home team an 8-0 lead in the early stages.

Islander starter Leo Perez pitched a gem in his first appearance on the mound, as the freshman righty held the visiting Jaguars to just two hits and a pair of walks over four innings. Perez faced just three over the minimum during his time on the bump, striking out four UHV batters on the day in his scheduled four.

Payton Bauer, Cody LeCompte and Zach Rumsfield finished off the final three frames of play on Wednesday, with Lecompte tossing a perfect sixth and Rumsfield making his first appearance since coming to the Island. The Islander pitching staff is currently holding opponents to just a .212 batting average on the year, as the knocks they surrendered to UHV ties a season-best. 

The Islander bats would remain quiet after the second inning before a Jaguars' fielding error, three walks and an HBP led to two more Blue and Green runs in the seventh, and thereby enacted a previously agreed upon run rule at 10-0. 

• Dinicola's home run was his second of the year, after tallying a grand slam against UTA to open the 2018 season. His nine RBI are tied with Thomas Jeffries for a team-high
• Owens' triple was the first of his career. as the third baseman crossed home plate a personal best three times
• Martinez' knock puts the junior on a six-game hitting streak, and an RBI-streak of five straight games
• Corpus Christi stole a season-high three times on UHV, swiping at a 1.000 average on the afternoon
• This is the third time this year the Blue and Green has held an opponent without an earned run, but the first time they've held a team from crossing home at all
• The Islanders' six game win streak is its longest since April of 2015, while their 7-1 record is the best start the program has had since 2007

COMING UP NEXT
The Islanders prepare for a four-game home stand against Utah Valley this weekend, opening play against the Wolverines on Friday at 6:30 PM. UVU is 3-4 to start the season, stealing games from both Pacific and Southern California to start the season. 

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