Baseball drops KBCC opener against BYU, 6-2

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas -- The Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi baseball program (2-4, 0-0 Southland) stumbled in Thursday evening's Kleberg Bank College Classic opener against BYU (3-2, 0-0 WCC), faltering by a 6-2 margin to the visiting Cougars at Whataburger Field. Despite knotting the score at two apiece behind a fifth-inning surge, the Islanders were unable to contain the BYU batting order two frames later, surrendering four runs off a trio of doubles and one single.

KEY INNINGS
Top | 2nd
- The Cougars earned the first run of the game off a well-hit home run over the right-field fence, securing an early 1-0 advantage over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

Top | 4th
- Despite facing a two-out climb late in the frame, BYU managed to turn a single/stolen base into an RBI for the two-run advantage.

Bottom | 5th
- Down just two, the Islanders offense burst into action during the team's leadoff at-bat of the fifth, picking up a quick baserunner after junior Mike Williams blooped a pitch into shallow left field.
- Williams stole second with relative ease before senior Andriurd Martinez notched the team's first RBI of the evening on a shot down the left-field line, scoring the former and slicing the deficit down to just one run. 
- A groundout from Steven Rivera-Chijin followed by a left-field single by junior Luke Marbach set up Martinez on third, and a failed double-play attempt at second base allowed the Islanders to knot the score at two all.

Top | 7th
- After working through a few frames of a tied 2-2 ballgame, the Cougars found offensive life of their own in the seventh. Early in the inning, a double from Gelalich placed runners at the corners, allowing a two-RBI single from Hale to recapture the BYU the lead at 4-2. 
- A pair of back-to-back doubles earned the Cougars insurance runs, closing out the eventual BYU victory at 6-2.

ON THE MOUND
- After successful first outing this past weekend against UT-Arlington, the Islanders turned to sophomore Leo Perez for his second start of the season. The right-hander took care of business through 5.0 innings of work, posting three strikeouts with just two earned runs on seven hits.
- Senior Cody LeCompte (0-1) took over for 2.0 frames midway through the game, surrendering four runs on five hits with just two strikeouts.
- Lastly, true freshman Tyler Miller closed out the matchup with 2.0 solid innings on the hill, striking out one with no hits and no runs allowed.

COMING UP NEXT
With the Kleberg Bank College Classic opener out of the way, the Islanders aim to pick up their first victory of the round-robin tournament Friday evening against Oral Roberts, first pitch with the Golden Eagles scheduled for 6 p.m. at Whataburger Field.

STAY SOCIAL
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