Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Defeats Sam Houston State
Southland Conference
Photo Gallery |
ESPN3 Replay |
Highlights
SUGAR LAND, Texas
– No. 8 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi defeated No. 5 Sam Houston State 6-4 Friday night at Constellation Field to secure another game in the 2015 Southland Conference Tournament.
In the bottom of the first inning, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (26-25, 13-14 Southland) senior Kyle Danford singled through the left side for an RBI advancing Zacarias Hardy to second base and scoring senior Tyler Ware for a 1-0 lead over Sam Houston State (29-27, 13-14 Southland).
Sam Houston State tied the game in the third inning when junior Zach Smith reached first base on a throwing error while freshman Bryce Johnson scored to put the Bearkats on the board, 1-1.
In the sixth inning, Sam Houston State extended its lead, 3-1, as junior Spence Rahm and junior Collin Yelich each picked up a run for the Bearkats.
A&M-Corpus Christi senior Jordan Lee scored on a single up the middle from Zacarias Hardy to cut Sam Houston State’s lead, 3-2. The Bearkats’ center fielder Tyler Ware took the mound to relieve right-handed sophomore starter Sam Odom after striking out five batters while giving up seven hits in 6.2 innings pitched. Ware stuck out Danford to get out of the inning.
The Islanders continued to move runners in the eighth inning when sophomore Lukas Hermanson singled through the left side to score sophomore Travis Geiser and tie the game 3-3 with one out. Ware struck out leadoff hitter Jordan Lee, but junior Casey Thomas singled to center field, scoring senior Frankie Salas as the Islanders led for the first time since the second inning, 4-3. Hardy secured two more runs with a single to right-center field.
A&M-Corpus Christi struck out two Bearkat batters with a runner on first base in the ninth inning. Rahm knocked the ball off the Islanders’ third baseman down the left-field line allowing senior Travis Lee to score from first base leaving Sam Houston down 6-4. A&M-Corpus Christi called on right-hander senior Jacob Dorris to get out of the inning. Dorris forced a popfly to end the game.
No. 8 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and No. 5 Sam Houston State will square off for the third time in the 2015 Conference Tournament Saturday at 1 p.m. at Constellation Field. The winner will advance to play No. 7 Houston Baptist in the championship game at 6 p.m.
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Coach Scott Malone
“You want to be positive and think [Casey Thomas] is due – obviously he was struggling – he’s been doing it all year and you close his eyes and know he’s going to find one. Some how, some way, he’s going to get one. I’m just happy for the guy because he’s been in a tough spot.”
“I just talked to the seniors after the game. As it starts to spread through, I congratulated them because they are doing what some of the special guys have done – they’re elevating the entire program. Zacarias Hardy has turned into one of the 10 best hitters in the league, now, and all the other guys are doing that – they’re elevating everybody else’s game. The program is being elevated by how well those guys are playing, how much energy they’re bringing. It’s what you want as a coach.
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Shortstop Casey Thomas
“The guys kept picking me up. I was a little nervous because I was 0-for-the-tournament coming into that at-bat. But I just stuck with it, I got down 0-2 but I just locked in and stayed with it.”
“We have a lot of confidence in the dugout, we have a lot of seniors that are picking us up, left and right, keeping us playing together and playing hard every pitch of the game. So I think that’s the key.”
Sam Houston State Coach Matt Deggs
"I thought Sam Odom pitched really well for us. He gave us a chance to win. We have a 3-1 lead in the seventh and 3-2 lead in the eighth. The wheels kind of came off there at the end. We’re going to have to play better tomorrow.Doubleheaders aren’t anything that we’re not used to. This will be our tenth doubleheader of the year. We’re prepared for it. That’s why it’s a double elimination tournament. You get a lose you have to come back. Not to take anything away from A&M-Corpus Christi. They had a long day and they fought hard. They’re a good ball club. They got the hits there at the end when they needed it."