CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – HBU scored three runs over the final two innings to tie, but Texas A&M-Corpus Christi rebounded with a walk-off single in the ninth to claim a 5-4 victory in a non-conference baseball matchup between the two Southland Conference schools Tuesday at Chapman Field.
Junior catcher
Blake Thomas went 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI, while junior rightfielder
Brandon Brintz went 2-for-5, drove in the tying run and scored a run for the Huskies (3-2). Senior first baseman
Andrew Alvarez has now reached safely in 15-straight games dating back to last season, doubling and scoring in his final at-bat.
Redshirt freshman
Zach Carter (0-1) took the loss for the Huskies, allowing one run on one hit with a walk in 1.2 innings. Senior righthander
Matt Harding made his first career start, allowing two runs on four hits with six strikeouts and a walk in four innings. Junior lefthander
Christian Thames gave up two runs, one earned, on two hits in three innings of relief.
Zacarias Hardy went 3-for-4 with a solo home run for the Islanders (3-1), while Casey Thomas went 2-for-5 with two RBIs, including the game-winner.
Chris Falwell was outstanding for TAMU-CC and left with a 3-1 lead, allowing one unearned run on four hits with seven strikeouts and a walk in seven innings. Aaron Hernandez gave up two unearned runs on two hits, then Nolan Holland (1-0) blew the save by allowing an unearned run, but received credit for the win.
TAMU-CC got on the board in the first when Zack Gibson tripled then scored on Austin Krajnak's sacrifice fly. The Islanders added another in the second when Brian Deaver led off with a single, went to second on a sacrifice bunt, then scored after a pair of wild pitches.
Brintz singled with one out in the fifth for HBU, then went to second when senior shortstop
Louie Payetta grounded out for the second out. Senior designated hitter
Austin Saenz, who reached on an error three times, lifted a fly ball to right, but the rightfielder dropped it, allowing Brintz to score.
The Islanders got the run back on Hardy's solo home run down the left field line in the sixth. Brett Burner reached on an error in the seventh, then later scored on Casey Thomas' single up the middle to extend the lead to 4-1.
Saenz reached on an error again in the eighth, then Alvarez followed with a double to left. Saenz scored on a sacrifice fly by senior third baseman
Justin Monsour, then Alvarez scored on a single by
Blake Thomas. Senior leftfielder
Josh Leonhardt was hit by a pitch to lead off the ninth, then went to second on a passed ball. Brintz delivered a two-out single to right to tie the game, 4-4.
Cullen Jozwiak walked to lead off the ninth, Burner laid down a sacrifice bunt, then Casey Thomas came through with a two-out single to end the game.
The Huskies return to action in the Al Ogletree Classic this weekend at Edinburg Baseball Stadium. HBU will face Washington State Friday at 3 p.m., host UT Rio Grande Valley Saturday at 7 p.m., then Washington State again Sunday at Noon. The Legacy Sports Network broadcast of each game with
Russ Reneau begins 15 minutes prior to the first pitch.
