Lacaze, Islanders dominant in KBCC victory over ORU, 5-1

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas -- The Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi baseball program (3-4, 0-0 Southland) composed an authoritative performance against visiting Oral Roberts (3-1, 0-0 Summit) in game three of the Kleberg Bank College Classic, scoring a 5-1 victory over the Golden Eagles on Friday evening at Whataburger Field. Junior ace Dustin Lacaze (1-0) posted a career night on the mound, striking out a personal-best 11 batters and holding ORU hitless through seven innings of action. Meanwhile, the Islanders' bats consistently worked throughout the matchup, notching runs in the third, fourth and seventh frames.

KEY INNINGS
Bottom | 3rd
- Junior Itchy Burts got things going early on the offensive end for Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, generating two runs in the third inning behind a well-hit double into left-center field. Fellow junior Trevor Beard came around for the initial lead while JUCO transfer Cole Fluta -- making his first appearance as an Islander -- pushed the advantage up to 2-0 in favor of the Blue & Green.

Bottom | 4th
- After senior Thomas Jeffries IV opened the frame with an infield single to second base, the outfielder set himself up in scoring position behind a stolen base and wild pitch, respectively.
- Following a pair of outs, junior Mike Williams came through for A&M-Corpus Christi with a hard-hit pitch to the shortstop, whose fielding mishap allowed both Williams to reach first and Jeffries to score.

Bottom | 7th
- The final runs of the night for the Islanders came on another Golden Eagles mistake, as a dropped fly ball deep in right field saw both senior Chad Romere (pinch-running for senior Andriud Martinez) and Fluta cross home plate, notching a 5-0 edge.

Top | 9th
- Oral Roberts managed to spoil both the combined no-hitter and shutout in the final three at-bats, as the Golden Eagles' leadoff drove a single up the middle to open the frame before scoring on a pair of back-to-back wild pitches.

ON THE MOUND
- Lacaze picked up his first win of the season behind 7.0 innings of work, notching a career-high 11 strikeouts while surrendering just four walks and one wild pitch. 
- Stud closer A.G. Ayala wrapped up the final 2.0 frames with nearly no hiccups, striking out four with one run and as many hits allowed.

COMING UP NEXT
After moving to 1-1 in the Kleberg Bank College Classic, the Islanders look to seal a positive tournament record in Saturday evening's 6 p.m. matchup with Ohio State, battling the Big Ten mainstay following the early game between BYU and Oral Roberts at Whataburger Field. 

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