Houston, Texas – In an offensive slugfest that saw a combined 29 hits and 20 runs between the two clubs, Houston used a decisive second inning to prevail against Texas A&M Corpus Christi baseball 12-8 Tuesday afternoon at Schroeder Park.
Despite trailing 12-5 entering the final stanza, the Islanders made a final push with singles from
Brendan Ryan and
Scott Hastings followed by a
Tyler Byrd walk to quickly load the bases. An
Itchy Burts two-RBI single made Houston pay while
Leo Markotic's team-high third hit of the game drove home another run to draw the Islanders within three before the Cougars squashed any rally hopes with a strikeout.
The Islanders landed the first punch as a Markotic double plated a run while a groundout later in the inning made it an early 2-0 lead for the visiting club. However, Houston countered with its own four-hit outing that was punctuated with a S. Rivas two-run homer to flip the advantage to a 5-2 Cougar lead.
Both squads went on to score in the following two frames, as
Josh Caraway lifted his second homer in as many games in the third while
Nate White crossed home thanks to a Hastings sacrifice to keep the Islanders within a two-run striking distance at the midway point.
Houston extended its scoring streak to three-straight frames before busting the game wide open with a pair of long balls that brought in three runs that made for a steep 12-5 Islander deficit late in the contest. The Islanders provided a final swing with a game-best, three-run ninth inning that ultimately fell just shy in an otherwise impressive offensive showing.
Markotic paced the Islanders' season-high 13 hit night with a 3-for-5 effort that included two different run-scoring swings while the Islanders' pitching contingent combined for 10 strikeouts.
The Islanders continue the four-game set against Houston at Whataburger Field as part of the Kleberg College Classic starting Friday, Feb. 26 with a 6 p.m. first pitch.
Notes
- A&M-Corpus Christi saw nine players record a hit and combine for a season-high 13 overall.
- Josh Caraway recorded his second-straight home run to become the first Islander with multiple long balls this season.
- Named Southland Hitter of the Week earlier this afternoon, Luke Marbach extended his hit streak to three games with a leadoff double in the first.
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