Ivy League Interactions

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - Coming off a 14-4 run-rule victory over Big 12 opponent Oklahoma this past Sunday, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi matches up with Ivy League member Columbia this Tuesday for their third midweek contest of the year. 

The Islanders are 2-0 when playing in the middle of the week during 2018, winning contests with UTRGV and UH-Victoria earlier this season. The Blue and Green dropped their first series of the year against OU this past weekend, falling in three of four games in Norman over the course of the weekend. Despite dropping the first three contests of the Sooner series, the Islanders stayed within a pair of runs of their hosts in all but eight frames over the course of the weekend, and now has wins against both SEC, and Big 12, opponents this year.

WHAT TO KNOW
Who: Columbia
When: Tuesday, 6:00 PM
Pitching Matchup: AMCC: L. Perez (1-1) v CU: Z. Bahm (1-0)
Where: Chapman Field | Corpus Christi, Texas
Watch: Islander Digital Network
 
AT THE PLATE
>> The Islanders tied season-highs in hits and RBI this past Sunday against OU with 17 and 13 respectively. Eight of nine Blue and Green starters earned knocks against the Sooners in the series finale
>> Thomas Jeffries IV went 10-for-18 from the plate over four games in Norman this weekend (.556), and is tied for a team-high 16 RBI on the year
>> Second baseman Andriud Martinez is currently on a 13-game hit streak, while catcher Drake Osborn has reached first safely in all 12 games he's made a plate appearance in this season
>> Jackson Owens' three triples are tied for the third-most in the country, while the Islanders' six as a team rank 22nd in Division I baseball
 
ON THE HILL
>> Aaron Hernandez has posted three consecutive quality starts, holding the Sooners to three earned runs over 7.2 innings of work on Saturday
>> With 34 strikeouts on the year, Hernandez sits 35th in Division I baseball, with 33 of his Ks coming in his past three appearances 
>> Leo Perez is preparing for his second start of the year, after giving up two hits over four innings of work against UH-Victoria two Wednesdays ago
>> With two overall, only 23 teams in the country have more shutouts than the Islander pitching staff this season

IN THE FIELD
>> With a .980 fielding percentage, the Islanders are the most efficient defensive team in the Southland and rank 25th in the country
>> Andriud Martinez has helped turn eight double plays while playing second base this year, he's committed just a single error all season
>> Committing 10 errors in 2018, Corpus Christi is averaging just .625 per contest

SCOUTING THE LIONS
>> Columbia just recently split their series with UTSA 2-2, after losing seven of their first eight games to start the season
>> The Lions have home run total of just four this year, from three different players going deep. The Islanders' Dinicola has as many long balls as the entire Columbia staff combined this year
>> Right hander Zach Bahm will take the hill for the Lions on Tuesday. The senior has made just one appearance in relief this season, giving up two hits and an earned run over 2.2 IP

COMING UP NEXT
Corpus Christi prepares to open the Southland Conference season this Friday, hosting Sam Houston State at Chapman Field for a three-game weekend series. The Blue and Green were swept by the 2017 SLC Tourney champs last year, but took one of three from the Bearkats the last time the series was played on the Island. 

The Islanders' upcoming contests against Columbia and SHSU can be followed via the live stream provided by the Islander Digital Network, powered by AEP Texas.

STAY SOCIAL
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