NORMAN, Okla. - In a back and forth contest throughout, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi came out on the wrong end of an 11-7 decision to open this week's four game series with Oklahoma.
After allowing the Sooners to jump out to an early 3-0 lead, the Blue and Green chipped away at the home team's lead before eventually jumping in front in the fourth. Picking up his first triple of the season, senior
Dalton Stark drove in Corpus Christi second baseman
Andriud Martinez from first, for the Islanders' first runs of the night. With Stark standing on third, the Blue and Green's
RJ Ruiz laid down a squeeze bunt to bring in the Corpus Christi center fielder and cut the home team's lead to just a single run.
Stark and Ruiz would both pick up their second RBI of the day in the following inning, with the former hitting into a fielder's choice with the bases loaded. Ruiz' groundout later in the inning scored
Thomas Jeffries IV to give the Islanders a 4-3 lead heading into the bottom of the frame.
The Sooners would regain the lead before forfeiting it once again in the fifth, with
Drake Osborn scoring on an OU error, eventually erasing then another one-run lead in the seventh on a wild pitch. Tied at six apiece, Oklahoma would hang a five-count in the seventh to take their final advantage of the night, finishing the evening with 11 runs on 13 hits.
Dustin Lacaze struck out five OU batters in his third start of the year, giving up three earned runs over 4.2 innings of work. Five Corpus Christi pitchers closed out the night for Coach Malone on the mound, with right hander
Payton Bauer making his third scoreless appearance of the year in the fifth. Freshman righty
Zach Rumfield closed out the night for the Blue and Green with an inning of shutout relief, he's yet to give up a run in his two trips to the bump this season.
- The Islanders recorded a season-high four stolen bases against Oklahoma, including their first double steal of the year in the top of the fifth
- Jeffries tallied his second straight multi-hit performance, going 2-for-5 on the night
- Andriud Martinez improved his hitting streak to 11 straight games, while RJ Ruiz hit in his fourth straight appearance. Ruiz has earned a knock in all five of his starts this season
- Martinez, Osborn and Harrison DiNicola each drew a pair of walks, tying the team season-high they set against UTRGV in February with seven bases on balls
COMING UP NEXT
The Islanders continue their road trip in Norman with a doubleheader matchup starting at 1 PM on Saturday. Blue and Green ace
Aaron Hernandez looks to continue his 15.1 inning streak without an earned run against in his fourth start this season, coming off the first complete game shutout of his career against Utah Valley last week.
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- Go Islanders -
