CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Houston Christian University pushed two runs across in each of its final two at-bats to rally for a 6-2 series opening victory over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi at Chapman Field on Friday evening. It was the first victory to start a series wince the season opener against Le Moyne and the first in conference play since last year's 14-13 win over Northwestern State t Husky Field. The victory evens HCU's conference record at 5-5.  

After three up and three down in the top of the first inning, Ethan Coronel took the mound making his first start in conference play this season. After retiring his first batter, the freshman gave up a walk and a single to put runners on the corners. A fielder's choice, sacrifice bunt, gave the Islanders the first run of the game. Coronel retired the side and pitched another shutout inning before Baylor Baumann claimed the rubber. Baumann tossed two scoreless frames before allowing a walk and an RBI double to increase Corpus Christi's lead to two runs.

Dwon two heading to the top of the sixth inning, Samuel Benjmain began the frame by drawing a lead-off walk. With two outs, Ty Hodge reached on a walk before Parker Edwards drove in Benjamin and Hodge with a double to left field, knotting things up 2-2.

After striking out the first batter of the bottom of the sixth, Baumann got in a jam as a walk and a single put two on. The Huskies made the call to the pen, and Jackson Hamilton would relieve the stress by induing a couple of flyouts to get the HCU out of trouble. stress.

The Huskies grabbed the lead in the top of the eighth inning. Tyler Larue doubled, and was followed by a homerun by William Jewell, a two-run blast that gave the Huskies their first lead of the game. After an up-down half inning by the Islanders, the Huskies extended their lead in the top of the ninth.  Josh Prinner led off with a walk, and Lane Sparks hit HCU's first triple of the season to chase Prinner home. Sparks scored the final run of the game on a wild pitch to close out the scoring.

The Huskies (12-20, 5-5 SLC) were led by Edwards going 2-for-4 with a single and a two-RBI, double. Jewell went 1-for-4 with a two-RBI, home run, and Sparks went 1-for-3 with a triple, a run, an RBI and a walk. Jackson Hamilton (1-1) earned the win pitching 3.2 shutout innings of relief with two strikeouts. Ethan Coronel pitched two innings to start the game allowing one earned run on two hits with a walk. Baylor Baumann pitched 3.1 innings of relief giving up one earned run on four hits with three walks and two strikeouts.

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (16-22, 4-6 SLC) was held to just six hits in game one with Garrett Gruell leading the way going 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Former Husky, Sebastian Trinidad, went 0-for-2 with a pair of walks and runs while Cade Sanchez and Cole Modgling each went 1-for-3 with a walk. Jack Hill (1-3) was tagged with the loss tossing 2.1 innings of relief allowing three earned runs on two hits with a walk and two strikeouts. Matthew Watson started the game for the Islanders pitching 5.2 innings, giving up two earned runs on three hits with four walks and seven strikeouts. Kendall Dove pitched the final frame of the evening allowing one earned run on one hit.

The three-game series against Corpus Christi will continue at Chapman Field with game two on Saturday at 2 p.m. The series will conclude with game three on Sunday, first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.

Live broadcast for the three-game conference weekend series is streamed live on ESPN+ and live stats are available at HCUHuskies.com!