Islanders' Comeback Bid Dashed in Battle with No. 10 Texas Tech

HOUSTON, Texas – Texas A&M-Corpus Christi baseball entered the ninth trailing 4-1, but the Islanders mounted a final push and plated two runs to draw within one before No. 10 Texas Tech dashed the rally and survived a 4-3 nail biter in the Shriners Hospitals for Children College Classic finale Sunday at Minute Maid Park.

Leadoff singles from Mike Williams and Tristan Welch put two aboard before Itchy Burts completed his 3-for-4 outing from the plate with a one-bagger up the middle to score Williams and tighten the margin to two. Brandon Petkoff endured the subsequent hit by pitch and a Steven Rivera groundout added another tally to the board for a one-run difference with two outs.

The Islander kept the comeback hopes alive as Tyler Byrd drew a walk to load the bases but they would get no closer as Texas Tech snagged a tough infield catch to survive the surge and preserve a spotless weekend mark.

Burts recorded his first homer of the season in spectacular fashion, belting far into the Minute Maid stands and logging the first run of the day to give A&M-Corpus Christi a 1-0 advantage in the second.

Texas Tech's offense stalled through six frames due to a masterful performance from Islanders starting hurler Hayden Thomas, who struck out 11 batters on 6.2 innings of work while only allowing one Red Raider run in the third. The contest proved to be a pitching duel, as both clubs combined to fan 25 batters.

A Jace Jung two-bagger in the seventh proved the difference, as the shot to left center cleared the bases and accounted for three Red Raider runs that broke a four-inning deadlock and moved Texas Tech to the leader position.

The Islanders outhit nationally-ranked Texas Tech by a 7-6 margin, as Burts paved the offensive charge with three of those to his name.

A&M-Corpus Christi's non-conference gauntlet continues with a trip to SEC-member Texas A&M on Tuesday, March 9 at 6:30 p.m.

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