CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi baseball program will host No. 1 Texas for a two-game series at Whataburger Field on Tuesday (6:35 p.m.) and Wednesday (4:05 p.m.) this week.
"This game doesn't need a big speech really," said head coach Scott Malone. "Our guys will be spinning like tops tomorrow ready to go and put on the best show we can put on. They love the magnitude of the moment, the bright lights and it doesn't get any bigger and brighter than this week."
Last time A&M-Corpus Christi hosted Texas, the Islanders handed the Longhorns an 8-2 loss on April 30, 2019. The two teams have competed against each other every year since 2014, barring the 2020 shortened season. In 2021, the Islanders traveled to Austin twice to compete against the Longhorns.
Batting has been strong for A&M-Corpus Christi as they sit first in the Southland conference with three home runs. In addition, the team has brought in 17 runs on a .291 batting average, both good enough for second in the SLC. Sophomore
Brandon Petkoff led the team in batting, going 5-11 at the plate for a .455 batting average with three runs scored and three RBIs. He had two extra base hits with a double and a home run over the weekend.
The Islanders left with a 2-1 series victory over the UT Arlington Mavericks on the road. The pitching staff kept them in the series, collecting 18 strikeouts through the weekend with sophomore
Jaime Ramirez Jr. and freshman
Zach Garcia earning the wins on Friday and Saturday, respectively. Garcia made his first collegiate appearance on Saturday and posted a 0.00 ERA with two strikeouts in four innings of work.
Coach Malone will look to pitching on Tuesday and Wednesday, saying, "Tomorrow is the [junior]
Hayden Thomas' game. That's not pressure; he's been here a long time and is talented. There will be a long list of MLB scouts in the bleachers to see a Thomas matchup against the Longhorns."
Opportunities may arise for new players in the lineup with some injuries during the first weekend of play, but that isn't bringing spirits down.
"Player X being slowed down means Player Y gets to play," said Malone "You get to see some other guys and I'm into that. We have a 40 man roster that all work their tail off and want their shot."
The games will be streamed on the Islanders Digital Network both days. After facing Texas, the Islanders will have one day off before the Kleberg Bank College Classic begins on Friday.
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