NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi baseball team split day two of the 2024 season, taking a dominate 13-1 win over Central Michigan before falling short 17-10 to host Stephen F. Austin Saturday at Pilgrim's Park.
After slugging its way to the seven-inning win over Central Michigan to open the day, the Islanders (2-1) put up another offensive slurry, but it wasn't enough that time against SFA who escaped with the win.
"It was a tough day for us to end the doubleheader on a down note, but the bright side was
Riely Hunsaker in game one. He pitched like he was trying to be the Southland Conference Pitcher of the Week. He attached the Central Michigan hitters and really challenged them," said head coach
Scott Malone.
Hunsaker pitched the complete game against the Chippewas, only allowing the one run off five hits. He retired three via strikeouts, all of whom went down swinging.
Backing him up in that game was a fiery offense that exploded in the third and fourth innings to never look back. Junior
Isaac Webb got back into a rhythm after his big shot in the season opener, ending the game 3-for-4 from the plate while scoring three himself. It included a single up the middle in the third to advance a runner as the two would round home for the first runs of the day.
In the fourth,
Stephen Hom reached base with a single through the right to tack on to
Cade Sanchez's RBI total as he went yard in the next at-bat to score them both. With a 5-0 lead,
Mason Persons, Webb, and
Drake Kerrr all singled to add two more to the board. Grant Gruell then doubled down the right line to drive Kerr home.
Another five-run inning came in the bottom frame of the sixth as Gruell took his shot at a home-run, rounding home right past Webb and Kerr for the 3-RBI swing. Hom reached base again and Sachez tripled to center to make it a 13-0 ballgame.
Central Michigan managed a one-run home run in the top of the seventh as they escaped the shutout courtesy of Hunsacker.
"Game two, the offense was on point. We got the lead early and continued to pick up our pitchers. We added runs each time SFA would score but they finally passed us late. Their hitters got hot today, and we couldn't slow them down," Malone said.
Webb knocked the lead-off single against the Lumberjacks and crept towards second off a wild pitched. Gruell's double sent him home and Kerr scored later on an error as the Islanders started 2-0 in their second game of the day. The bats never really slowed for A&M-Corpus Christi, as the Islanders held on to an 8-7 lead through five before a big seventh inning came from Stephen F. Austin as they pulled away late.
"With a 2-1 record heading into the last game of the weekend, it will be a great challenge for our team to bounce back Sunday and try to head home with another win tacked on."
That chance will come tomorrow in a rematch with the Lumberjacks. First pitch will be at 11 a.m. and the game will be available to watch live on ESPN+.
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