Box Score CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – The Huskies battled back from a five-run deficit but couldn't outpace the Islanders, falling in a shootout game three, 12-13, at Chapman Field. HCU falls to 6-6 in conference play, two games back of Southland leader, Lamar.

The Huskies got on the board early in the top of the first inning when Samuel Benjamin hit his sixth home run in five games with a solo-shot to right center to give HCU a, 1-0, lead. After a shutout inning by both teams, the Islanders got on the board and took the lead posting two runs in the bottom of the third inning. Rebounding quickly, the Huskies answered notching two runs in the top of the fourth inning started when Tyler LaRue drew a lead-off walk before William Jewell got hit-by-pitch. In his first pitch of the at-bat, Luke Bard doubled to left field scoring Tyler LaRue and advancing Jewell to third base. Jewell scored on a sacrifice fly by Josh Prinner to reclaim the Husky lead at 3-2. Corpus Christi retaliated, tallying three-runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to take a 5-3 lead. The Islanders increased their lead to five-runs scoring four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. After a shutout inning by both teams in the sixth inning, the Huskies narrowed the deficit in the top of the seventh inning Lane Sparks reached on a error to lead-off before Trevor Roper singled to left field. After a pitching change by the Islanders, Ty Hodge doubled to left field scoring Sparks and advancing Roper to third base. A sacrifice fly off the bat of Tyler LaRue scored Roper and narrowed the TAMUCC' lead to three-runs at 9-6. The Huskies posted six runs in the top of the eighth inning to grab their largest lead of the game at 12-9. After loading the bases with Bard, Baker and Prinner, Sparks singled to second base scoring Bard before Roper singled to right field scoring Baker. A single by Hodge scored Prinner and a single by Benjamin scored Roper and Sparks. The final run of the top of the eighth inning was a sacrifice fly off the bat of Jewell scoring Hodge. Trailing 12-9, Corpus Christi continued to answer the call, notching four runs in the bottom of the eighth inning and claiming game three, 13-12.

The Huskies (13-21, 6-6 SLC) were led by Roper going 4-for-5 with three runs and an RBI. Benjamin went 3-for-5 with a home run, four RBIs and a run while Hodge also went 3-for-5 with a double, two RBIs and a run. Lane Sparks extended his hit streak to eight-games going 1-for-5 with two runs and an RBI. Jett Feltman (2-3) was tagged with the loss pitching .2 innings of relief allowing one earned run on three hits. Rye Gunter started the game tossing three frames giving up four runs, three earned runs, on five hits with a walk and two strikeouts. Christian Diaz pitched 1.2 scoreless innings of relief allowing a hit and recording a strikeout. Ty Dagley tossed a shutout inning of relief with two strikeouts. The Huskies used seven pitchers in the game three loss.

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (17-23, 5-7 SLC) was led by Christian Smith-Johnson going 3-for-4 with a double, three RBIs, a run and a walk. Mason Persons also went 3-for-4 with a walk and a run while Sebastian Trinidad and Logan Vaughan each went 3-for-5 scoring two runs each. Maddox Thornton (1-3) earned the win pitching one inning of relief allowing six runs, four earned runs, on four hits with a walk. Jack Hill notched the save pitching the final inning of relief with a strikeout. Zach Garcia started the game for the Islanders tossing six frames, giving up six runs, four earned runs, on eight hits with two walks and eight strikeouts.

The Huskies will return to Houston to take on the University of Houston in a midweek matchup on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at Schroeder Park. The Cougars (17-17, 5-12 Big12) are coming off a three-game home series against the University of Texas, falling to the Longhorns, 1-2, in the series after claiming game one, 9-1. Houston is led by Harold Coll hitting .321 average with 33 RBIs, 21 runs, 12 doubles and seven home runs on the season. Justin Murray is coming off a multi-hit game in game three vs the Longhorns while batting .319 average on the year with 31 runs, 25 RBIs and 21 walks.

The midweek matchup broadcast will be live streamed on Big 12 now and ESPN+. Live stats are available at HCUHuskies.com!