Sooners On Slate

Baseball | March 08, 2018

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Texas A&M-Corpus Christi embarks on one of its biggest road series of the year this weekend, facing off with Big 12 opponent Oklahoma for a four-game series in Norman this Friday through Sunday. 

The Islanders are off to their best start in program history after taking wins in 10 of their first 12 matchups, most recently taking a 3-1 series victory over visiting Utah Valley University. The Blue and Green had their biggest offensive day of the year in Sunday's finale after posting 17 hits and 15 runs against the Wolverines, but the weekend's greatest highlight may have occurred in game one of Saturday's doubleheader, where Islander ace Aaron Hernandez tossed the first shutout of his career in a 6-0 win over UVU. 

The hometown product struck out a career-high 15 batters on the afternoon, while holding the visiting Wolverines to just seven hits and a single hit by pitch. Hernandez has not given up an earned run in his last 15.1 innings of work, as the Islander pitching staff currently holds a team ERA of 3.10 in 2018.

WHAT TO KNOW
Who: Oklahoma
When: Friday, 6:30 PM
Pitching Matchup: AMCC: D. Lacaze (1-0) v OU: J. Irvin (2-0)
Where: L. Dale Mitchell Park | Norman, Oklahoma
Watch: Sooner Sports

Who: Oklahoma
When: Saturday, 1:00 PM (DH 1)
Pitching Matchup: AMCC: A. Hernandez (1-1) v OU: K. Tyler (0-2)
Where: L. Dale Mitchell Park | Norman, Oklahoma
Watch: Sooner Sports

Who: Oklahoma
When: Saturday, 4:00 PM (DH 2)
Pitching Matchup: AMCC: T. Gillespie (1-0) v OU: D. Perez (0-0)
Where: L. Dale Mitchell Park | Norman, Oklahoma
Watch: Sooner Sports

Who: Oklahoma
When: Sunday, 1:00 PM
Pitching Matchup: AMCC: J. Owens (1-0) v OU: N. Wiles (1-0)
Where: L. Dale Mitchell Park | Norman, Oklahoma
Watch: Sooner Sports
 
AT THE PLATE
>> With five triples on the year, the Islanders are currently tied for 26th in the country. Jackson Owens has a team-high of three on the season, after grabbing a pair of three-baggers this past Saturday against UVU
>> Owens' .553 on base percentage is not only the second highest average in the Southland, but it also sits 34th among all Division I players
>> Andriud Martinez is currently on a team-best 10-game hit streak, after picking up SLC Player of the Week honors this past Wednesday. First baseman Harrison DiNicola and catcher Drake Osborn are both on nine-game streaks, with the latter earning a knock in every game he's held an at bat this year
>> Earning three starts this season, third baseman Enrique Sanchez Jr. has hit eight-for-nine in his past three appearances, and is slashing .615/.625/.769 over the course of the year
 
ON THE HILL
>> With 27 strikeouts over his last two starts, Aaron Hernandez has moved into 28th in D1 baseball with 14.26 K/9
>> Combining for a team ERA of 3.10, the Blue and Green's regular rotation of Lacaze, Hernandez and Owens is averaging 2.55, 3.06 and 2.93 respectively
>> Only 13 teams in the country have more shutouts than the Islanders this year (2), while Hernandez' 15 strikeouts against UVU are the fifth-most any D-I pitcher has had in a single game this season
>> Tate Gillespie is scheduled to make his third start of the year in game two of Saturday's doubleheader. He currently holds eight strikeouts over 12.2 innings, appearing both as a starter and out of the bullpen

IN THE FIELD
>> With 13 double plays turned, the Islanders rank 18th in all of Division I baseball
>> 16 Corpus Christi players are fielding at 1.000 on the year, combining for the 25th most efficient defense in the country (.981)
>> Turning 11 on the year, NSU's Caleb Ricca is the only other shortstop in the SLC with more double plays than the Islanders' own Steven Rivera-Chijin (10)

SCOUTING THE SOONERS
>> The Sooners are coming off a win against Missouri Valley Conference Champs Dallas Baptist, while taking two of three from SEC opponent Alabama at home in Norman
>> Hitting primarily in the leadoff this year, Cade Harris ranks third in the country with eight doubles. Harris is slashing .380/.508/.620 over OU's first 13 games, while drawing a team-high 12 walks 
>> The Islanders are slated to face starting righty Jake Irwin on Friday. The 6'6" junior is 2-0 on the year with a 2.00 ERA and his 29 strikeouts rank 16th in all of Division I baseball

COMING UP NEXT
After its series in Norman, Corpus Christi comes back home to play Columbia inside Chapman, facing off in their last non-conference game before playing host to Southland Conference rival Sam Houston State.

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
For more information on Islanders Baseball, follow the team on Twitter (@IslandersBSB), Instagram (@islandersbsb) and like their Facebook page (Islanders Baseball).
- Go Islanders -