ARLINGTON, Texas - The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi baseball team fell one game short of a series sweep at Clay Gould Ballpark against UT Arlingtonin a 9-7 loss on Sunday.
The Islanders continued to have hot at-bats, putting up a season-high seven runs in the effort led by sophomores
Diego Johnson and
Max Puls. Both batters combined for 4 runs and 4 hits in the contest.
"We entered the seventh inning with a chance to sweep with nine outs to go, which is one of the things I'm most proud about," said head coach Scott Malone. "While we're disappointed we didn't get the sweep, winning two of three games against a great Sun Belt team is a great start."
The top of the second was huge, allowing the Islanders to take an early 3-1 lead. Sophomore Brandon Petkoff made his way to first base after being hit by a pitch. Johnson then belted a single into center field, allowing Petkoff to advance to third. Puls was next in the lineup and was able to get on base by a fielding error, which also allowed Petkoff to come in for the first run of the game. Freshman Cole Modgling, who made his first collegiate appearance, was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Sophomore Tyler Linneweber then hit a sac fly to center, bringing Johnson home. Puls then scored on a single by junior Leo Markotic.
Five Islanders made pitching appearances in the game with junior Tyler Miller making the start. Miller worked his way through three innings before freshman Clay Westbrook and sophomore Kennedy Parks came in for an inning of relief each. Senior Henry Bird was next to take the mound, pitching two shutout innings before Colin Purcell, a sophomore, finished the last inning."
"Henry Bird was good and is still working his way back to 100% health," said Malone. "He's an older guy and I love having older guys on the mound. He had a lot of moxie, throwing a lot of strikes and started shutting hitters down to help us get back in the game."
The sixth inning was massive in being able to score four runs to tie the game at seven a piece. Johnson was walked and then subsequently took second on a wild pitch. Modgling was hit for the second time shortly after to get on base. Puls singled to advance each runner, then Linneweber got his first hit of the season to drive Johnson in. Markotic grounded out to first in the next at-bat, but the play brought in Puls, making the score 7-5. Senior Steven Rivera-Chijin got to first on a fielding error which scored Modgling. Linneweber then tied the game by scoring on a wild pitch before two outs ended the inning.
A&M-Corpus Christi will play its first home game on Tuesday against No. 1 Texas at Whataburger Field at 6:05 p.m.
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