SAN MARCOS, Texas -- The Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi baseball program (6-4, 0-0 Southland) upended former Southland member Texas State (5-3, 0-0 Sun Belt) in the team's fourth consecutive victory, powering past the Bobcats by a 12-5 mark Wednesday evening in San Marcos, Texas. Despite falling behind by two runs after closing out the fourth frame, the Islanders bounced back with a hard-hitting fifth, scoring five to capture a 7-3 advantage. The Bobcats managed to inch back within striking distance with a two-run response of their own, but a one-run eighth frame from the Blue & Green coupled with another four in the ninth sealed the eventual 12-5 victory.
KEY INNINGS
Bottom | 2nd
- A two-run homer over the left-field fence granted Texas State the early 2-0 advantage.
Top | 5th
- A solo shot from junior
Mike Williams, his first as an Islander, cut the lead back to one in the fourth, but the Bobcats quickly regained the two-run edge with a solo homer of their own later in the frame.
- After a Texas State pitching change, the Blue & Green batting order got to work, loading the bases behind a pair of walks and a one-out single from junior
Joey Werner.
- Senior
Enrique Sanchez Jr. cashed in the ensuing at-bat, picking up an RBI walk on a full count and pulling the Islanders within one.
- Next up, Williams took advantage of the batter-friendly environment, notching a pair of RBIs with a single through the left side.
- A Bobcat fielding error failed to alleviate any pressure, loading the bases once again as
Luke Marbach made his way to first.
- Sophomore
Steven Rivera-Chijin notched an RBI groundout to first base the following at-bat, plating Sanchez and avoiding the double play.
- The ensuing pinch hitter substitution worked significantly in the Islanders' favor, as senior
Thomas Jeffries IV jacked a two-RBI double down the right-field line for a 7-3 edge.
Bottom | 5th
- Texas State put together a pair of late-frame runs behind a fielder's choice and an RBI single into right, cutting the Blue & Green lead down to just two.
Top | 9th
- After
Itchy Burts picked up an RBI sacrifice bunt in the eighth and extended Texas A&M-Corpus Christi's lead back out to three, the Islanders' juggernaut offense worked to clinch victory in the final frame.
- A pair of singles from Werner and Sanchez combined with Williams reaching on an attempted sacrifice bunt turned error loaded the bases early for the Blue & Green.
- Another single, this time by Marbach into right field, scored one and saw Sanchez thrown out at the plate, leaving runners at first and second.
- Rivera-Chijin loaded the bases once again on a poorly executed fielder's choice, as the attempted out at third base failed to catch Williams.
- The Islanders posted their final hit of the night the ensuing at-bat, as another clutch connection from Jeffries (a single into center) sent Williams home and bolstered the lead up to 10-5.
- Both Burts and fellow junior
Drake Osborn would earn RBI walks in consecutive at-bats before a strikeout ended the inning, resulting in the Islanders' eventual 12-5 victory.
ON THE MOUND
- The Islanders sent out 10 different pitchers against the Bobcats with a majority tossing 1.0 frames or less. Freshman
Mason Hopkins (1-0) picked up the first win of his young career, holding Texas State to just one run on as many hits with a single strikeout.
- Sophomore
Payton Bauer went a whole 1.2 innings for the Blue & Green, the longest of any other pitcher on the night. The right-handed ace surrendered just one hit with a pair of strikeouts.
COMING UP NEXT
After wrapping up Texas State in the team's first road win of 2019, the Islanders return home for a three-game stretch at Chapman Field, hosting a non-conference series against Eastern Michigan from Friday, Mar. 1 through Sunday, Mar. 3.
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-- Go Islanders --
