Islanders Meet With No. 11 Aggies At Whataburger

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - Texas A&M-Corpus Christi prepares for its second top-25 matchup of the season, meeting with Texas A&M this Tuesday at Whataburger Field. The Islanders are 3-0 when playing at Whataburger this season, and won their previous matchup against a top-25, dropping previously ranked No. 20 Mississippi State at the Kleberg Bank College Classic.

Corpus Christi is coming off its first Southland Conference series win, after beating Northwestern State 2-1 in Natchitoches. The Islanders went 4-1 over the course of the week after beating UH-Victoria and UTRGV during the midweek. The Aggies are 2-4 in SEC play this week, dropping each of their series to No. 4 Auburn and No. 5 Ole Miss two games to one.

The Islanders were ranked 52nd in the most recent RPI poll, Sam Houston State is the only team in the SLC with a better ranking this year. 

WHAT TO KNOW
Who: No. 11 Texas A&M
When: Friday, 6:35 PM
Pitching Matchup: AMCC: T. Gillespie (1-1) v TAMU: C. Jozwiak (2-0)
Where: Whataburger Field | Corpus Christi, Texas
Watch: Islander Digital Network
 
AT THE PLATE
>> With 10 triples the Islanders rank eighth in all of D1 college baseball. The Blue and Green recorded a pair of three-baggers in its game against UH-Victoria earlier this week
>> Harrison DiNicola has crossed home plate 28 times this year, sitting 22nd in the country in runs scored. The Islander first baseman is currently on a 10-game hitting streak and has reached first safely in all but two games in 2018
>> Outfielder Nick Anderson had a big performance at the plate this week, collecting a career-high five RBI against UHV, driving in 10 runs over five games, and collecting a pair of home runs
>> In addition to Anderson's two homers, Drake Osborn and Jackson Owens each went deep this past week. The Islanders have 17 home runs through 25 games this season, after tallying 23 in all 54 games the previous season
 
ON THE HILL
>> Tate Gillespie is scheduled to take the hill this Tuesday, giving up an average of three runs in his past three starts
>> Right hander Leonel Perez earned two wins this past week, tossing a combined nine shutout innings in his start against UHV and his relief appearance at Northwestern State
>> The Blue and Green pitching staff has combined for three shutouts this season, only 12 teams in the country have more in 2018
>> Three Islander relievers are holding on to a 0.00 ERA this season. A.G. Ayala is on a streak of eight shutout appearances and is yet to surrender an earned run on the season

IN THE FIELD
>> Corpus Christi's .978 fielding percentage sits 27th in the country, they've committed just 19 errors this season
>> The Islanders have turned 21 double plays this season, to rank fourth in the Southland. Shortstop Steven Rivera-Chijin has helped turn 13 of those plays despite starting just 12 games
>> Drake Osborn has gunned down two of five runners attempting to steal against him this year

SCOUTING THE AGGIES
>> Texas A&M has one of the best pitching staffs in all of D1 baseball. They rank fourth in walks allowed per nine (2.63), fifth in strikeouts to walks (3.26), sixth in WHIP (1.10) and 11th in ERA (2.59)
>> With 271 hits the Aggies rank eighth in the country, while Michael Helman is currently on an 18-game hit streak
>> Corpus Christi faces off with left hander Chandler Jozwiak, who holds a 3.81 ERA and 31 strikeouts. Chandler's older brother Cullen is a former Islander baseball player, and earned All-Southland Honorable Mentions in 2017

COMING UP NEXT
After the Islanders' meeting with the Aggies they look on toward a Southland Conference matchup with New Orleans at home this weekend. Corpus Christi took one of three against the Privateers in New Orleans the previous year. 

The Blue and Green's contest against the Aggies can be followed via the live stream provided by the Islander Digital Network, powered by AEP Texas.

STAY SOCIAL
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