DALLAS, Texas – The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi baseball team fell behind courtesy of two powerful innings from #19 Dallas Baptist in a 10-5 game Friday night at Horner Ballpark.
The Islanders (10-11) held strong against the nationally ranked team until four-run innings in the fifth and sixth propelled DBU (14-3) onward towards the win in game one of the weekend series. A three-run response finally came from A&M-Corpus Christi's dugout in the top of the eighth but an insurance run by the Patriots capped the 10-5 decision.
"Tough game tonight," said head coach
Scott Malone. "Those guys are good, just really talented on the mound and have a strong group of hitters. Dallas Baptist showed tonight why they are a ranked team with NCAA Postseason goals. We'll get back after them tomorrow."
After DBU struck first with a run in the bottom of the third, the Islanders heated up in the fourth as junior
Isaac Webb led off with the single up the middle. Junior
Drake Kerr followed him up with a base-hit of his own before junior
Josh Blount's infield single had everyone safe for a bases-loaded situation. Senior
Sebastian Trinidad, the reigning SLC Hitter of the Week, reached on an error but Webb got home for the 1-1 tie.
Kerr and Trinidad showed off on the base paths and when the pitcher thought he got the punch out, Kerr stole home as Trinidad slid in safe to second. It gave A&M-Corpus Christi a 2-1 lead that held until the fifth.
Junior
Matthew Watson had conceded just one run through four complete innings until DBU jumped on him in the fifth as the Patriots scored four with two-down. He managed to strike out five during his time on the mound. Another four-run inning came from DBU in the next frame off relief pitchers.
The Islanders stayed quiet until the eighth as senior
Cole Modgling drew the lead-off walk. Junior
Stephen Hom reached on a walk in the next at-bat and Webb's fly out advanced the lead runner to third. Another infield error from the Patriots placed junior
Garrett Gruell on first while Modgling ran home to cut into the deficit 9-3. Blount then doubled past the left fielder to round the other two runners to home as the two-RBI hit gave a late push against the Patriots who ultimately subsided the rally.
Blount ended with the only two RBI's accredited to the Islanders on the night after going 2-of-4 from the plate. Webb and Kerr were the only other Islanders to get past the DBU pitching combo of Ryan Johnson and Jerrod Jenkins who combined to only allow four hits with all five runs unearned.
The Islanders will look for the chance to even the series in game two, set for tomorrow at 2 p.m.
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