EDINBURG, Texas -- The Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi baseball program (11-7-0, 2-1 Southland) dropped the initial bout of the South Texas Showdown to rival UT-Rio Grande Valley (12-5-0, 0-0 WAC), falling to the Vaqueros by an 9-4 mark at UTRGV Baseball Stadium on Wednesday evening. Despite surging out to a 3-0 advantage through the first frame, UTRGV battled back over the course of the next six innings, capturing a 5-3 lead before a grand slam in the eighth sealed the victory.
KEY INNINGS
Top | 1st
- The Islanders opened the matchup with some fire, as an initial walk from
Itchy Burts and an ensuing double off
Enrique Sanchez Jr. set up a pair of runners in scoring position.
- After
Joey Werner reached on a hit-by-pitch, loading the bases, senior
Nick Anderson sent a single into left center, pushing Burts home for the 1-0 lead and reloading the bases for the Blue & Green.
- Despite a double play quelling the momentum,
Luke Marbach managed to post a two-RBI double down the left-field line, escorting both Werner and Anderson home for a quick 3-0 advantage.
Bottom | 3rd
- The Vaqueros fought back to a tie 3-3 game in the third, scoring first on an RBI single before an error in the outfield allowed two more to cross home plate.
Bottom | 5th
- UT-Rio Grande Valley captured their first lead of the night on a wild pitch, scoring an unearned run from third (reached on an error on the left fielder) to pick up the 4-3 edge.
Bottom | 8th
- Reliever
Zach Rumfield surrendered a two-out grand slam as the Vaqueros extended their advantage out to a six-run margin.
Top | 9th
- Sanchez Jr. picked up an RBI with a single into left center, closing the gap to five runs as fellow senior
Thomas Jeffries IV scored from second base.
ON THE MOUND
- Senior
Cody LeCompte received the start on the night, tossing the opening 2.2 frames with three runs allowed on seven hits. The southpaw also set down three on strikes and walked just one batter.
- A freshman trio of
Hayden Thomas,
Steven Vejil (0-1) and
Mason Hopkins combined for the middle 6.0 innings, surrendering five total runs on five hits with a joint five strikeouts.
- Rumfield closed out the final out for the Islanders, giving up one run on as many hits.
COMING UP NEXT
With the five-game road trip concluded, the Islanders return to Corpus Christi on Wednesday evening for another non-conference matchup against UMass, first pitch against the Minutemen set for 6 p.m. at Chapman Field.
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-- Go Islanders --
