THIBODAUX, La. -- The Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi baseball program (16-11, 5-4 Southland) struggled to find any offensive rhythm in the series finale against Nicholls (13-12, 5-4 Southland), eventually falling by a 6-3 decision to the Colonels on Sunday afternoon at Didier Field. After the Islanders jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the second, the Colonels battled back in the bottom of the frame, posting a trio of runs to pick up a lead they would never surrender. Despite AMCC closing the gap back within one in the fifth, Nicholls continued pounding the Blue & Green bullpen, securing one run in both the fifth and seventh frames before relief pitching locked up the win.
KEY INNINGS
Top | 2nd
-
Thomas Jeffries IV got things going early in the second, pushing a one-out pitch into deep left field for a double. One at-bat later,
Steven Rivera-Chijin sent a hard-hit ball to deep second base, reaching on a throwing error and allowing Jeffries to score unhindered for the 1-0 advantage.
Bottom | 2nd
- Nicholls responded quickly in the bottom of the frame, jacking a leadoff solo home run before picking up the a two-run edge later in the inning with a two-run homer.
Bottom | 3rd
- The Colonels expanded on their lead in the third, notching an RBI single up the middle for the 4-1 advantage.
Top | 5th
- The Islanders turned to their signature small ball action in the fifth, leading off the frame with a single from Rivera-Chijin. A sacrifice groundout pushed the sophomore to second before another single, this time from
Enrique Sanchez Jr., set up runners at the corners.
- After an
Itchy Burts sac bunt moved Sanchez Jr. over to second, senior
Nick Anderson drove a two-RBI single up the middle, closing the gap to just one run in favor of Nicholls, 4-3.
Bottom | 7th
- After reclaiming the two-run edge in the fifth, the Colonels wrapped up the game's scoring in the seventh, generating one more run on a sac fly for the 6-3 lead.
ON THE MOUND
- Sophomore
A.G. Ayala (1-2) picked up the loss in yet-another Sunday start, surrendering four runs on as many hits through 2.1 innings of work. In relief, the Islanders initially turned true freshman
Hayden Thomas and senior
Dylan Duarte, combining for 2.2 innings with one run allowed on one hit and a pair of strikeouts.
- Sophomore
Zach Rumfield stepped in to open the sixth frame, tossing a team-high 2.2 innings with one run given up on three hits. Fellow sophomore
John Gaddis wrapped up the final out of the game, allowing just one hit.
COMING UP NEXT
With the road series concluded, the Islanders return to Corpus Christi for a three-game set against Central Arkansas, hosting the Bears Mar. 29 through Mar. 31 at Chapman Field.
STAY SOCIAL
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-- Go Islanders --
