Corpus Christi Caller Times Caller.com - One up, one down for Islanders baseball team

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Monday, April 3, 2000

One up, one down for Islanders baseball team
Texas A&M-CC wins the first game of a doubleheader, 5-4, but drops second by same score
By Javier Becerra
Caller-Times
It was a case of deja vu for the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi baseball team on Sunday afternoon.
   St. Edward's University completed a season sweep of the Islanders in the second game of a doubleheader at Cabaniss Field with a 5-4 win in eight innings. The Hilltoppers defeated A&M-Corpus Christi by the same score in the teams' first meeting in February in Austin.
   The Islanders (16-22) rallied for a 5-4 win in the ninth inning over Tarleton State in Sunday's first game.
   A&M-Corpus Christi has gone 4-3 over its last seven games but has lost three of its last four. Coach Hector Salinas said his team's recent woes, which include a seven-game losing streak from March 17-24, has had a noticeable effect on the players.
   "You can finally tell that they're hurting after a loss. It didn't seem to bother them earlier in the season," Salinas said following the Islanders loss to St. Edward's. "You can tell it does hurt them. You can tell they feel the pain. Maybe they'll remember that the next time we play."
   The game was tied, 1-1, after one inning before solid hitting by A&M-Corpus Christi allowed the Islanders to build some momentum.
   A&M-Corpus Christi took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the third inning on an RBI double by Orlando Ruiz. Rick Hernandez cracked a double to center field in the fifth to help the Islanders stretch their lead to 4-1.
   Islanders starter Larry Olivarez Jr. held St. Edward's to just five hits in six innings before the Hilltoppers began their rally.
   David Pickle reached base on a fielder's choice and scored on a double by Rudy Mendoza. Two batters later, Stephen Poe doubled to drive in Mendoza, forcing the Islanders to make a pitching change.
   Stephen Delgado came in for the Islanders and gave up a single to Brian Loper, which brought in an unearned run. Delgado faced just one batter before being relieved by Chuck Hoskins, who got Erik Martin to fly out to left field to end the inning with the score tied 4-4.
   With two outs in the eighth inning, Mark Verrett reached on a throwing error by third baseman Brandon Trevino. Pickle gave the Hilltoppers a 5-4 lead with a sharp single to shortstop.
   Relief pitchers Mark Halsey and Joey Freedman combined to keep the Islanders hitless in the final three innings.
   In the opener, Tarleton State took a 2-0 lead in the first inning which the Islanders cut in half in the second with a lone run on a solo home run by catcher Ryan Clyde.
   After two shutout innings, A&M-Corpus Christi starter Chuck Hoskins gave up a leadoff double to Matt Cooper in the fourth inning. Chad Hampshire followed with a single down the right field to score Cooper. The Texans ended the inning on three straight outs but not before extending their lead, 3-1.
   The Islanders took their first lead of the game in the bottom of the sixth inning. Josh Wilson led off with a single and Rick Hernandez reached base after being hit by a pitch. Both runners advanced into scoring position on a sacrifice by Clyde.
   Brandon Trevino loaded the bases on an infield single, knocking Tarleton State starter Pacer Bourland out of the game. Pinch hitter Chad Gilpin singled off reliever Travis Manning, clearing the bases and giving the Islanders a 4-3 lead.
   Tarleton State tied the game, 4-4, in the top of the seventh on an RBI double by Shaun Shiery. With Brian Platts on the mound for the Texans, A&M-Corpus Christi stranded a runner at third base in the bottom of the seventh, sending the game into extra innings.
   Wacey Bierschwale started the ninth for the Texans and gave up a double to Ruiz to open the inning. Ruiz scored the game-winning run on a throwing error by third baseman Matt Thaler after a single by Josh Wilson.
   FIRST GAME
   Texas A&M-CC 5, Tarleton State 4 (9 inn.)
   Tarleton State 200 100 100 - 4 7 3
   A&M-CC 010 003 001 - 5 12 2
   Pacer Bourland, Travis Manning (6), Brian Platts (6), Wacey Bierschwale (9) and Gino Bertagna. Chuck Hoskins, Jeremy Fuller (7) and Ryan Clyde. WP - Fuller (7-2). LP - Bierschwale (1-1). HR - A&M-CC, Clyde (7). Records - Tarleton State 23-15, A&M-CC 16-21.
   Highlights - Tarleton State, Noel Sauceda 3-4, Shaun Shiery 1-4, 2B, R, RBI, Mike Gonzalez 1-3, R, Matt Cooper 1-4, 2B, R, Chad Hampshire 1-4, RBI; A&M-CC, Orlando Ruiz 2-4, 2B, R, Josh Wilson 2-4, R, Clyde 1-3, HR, R, RBI, Brandon Trevino 2-3, 2B, Chad Gilpin 1-2, 2RBI.
   SECOND GAME
   St. Edward's 5, Texas A&M-CC 4 (8 inn.)
   St. Edward's 100 000 31 - 5 10 0
   A&M-CC 101 020 00 - 4 8 3
   Brad Martin, Mark Halsey (5), Joey Freedman (8) and Erik Martin. Larry Olivarez Jr., Stephen Delgado (7), Chuck Hoskins (7) and Ryan Clyde. WP - Halsey (4-1). LP - Hoskins (2-2). Records - St. Edward's 18-12, A&M-CC 16-22.
   Highlights - St. Edward's, David Pickle 2-5, R, RBI, Rudy Mendoza 1-4, 2B, 2R, RBI, Stephen Poe 3-4, 2 2B, 2RBI, Brian Loper 2-4, 2B, RBI; A&M-CC, Orlando Ruiz 2-4, 2B, R, RBI, Josh Wilson 1-3, 2B, R, Rick Hernandez 2-4, 2B, 3RBI, Brandon Trevino 2-4, 2B, Ryan Spaeny 1-2, 2R.
   Tennis
   IRVINE, Calif. - UC-Irvine captured four of six singles matches en route to claiming a 5-2 victory over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in the finals of the 21st Annual UCI/Sheraton Classic on Sunday afternoon at the UCI Tennis Complex.
   The Anteaters, ranked 61st in the country, captured their ninth tourney title in the event's history. They improved to 13-5 on the season and dropped the Islanders to 15-4. The loss also ended A&M-Corpus Christi's seven-match winning streak.
   Islanders Christophe Bergues and Alex Johansson posted victories at number one and four singles respectively. Bergues, a sophomore, dumped Brett Lucas 5-7, 6-3, 6-0 while Johansson defeated David Matthew with relative ease 6-2, 6-1. Johansson, the team's lone senior, notched his eighth-consecutive singles victory and improved to 19-5 on the year.
   The duo of Bergues and Stuart Beauchamp posted an impressive victory at number one doubles with an 8-4 victory over UCI's Chris Chung and Chris Ma. They were the 49th-ranked doubles team in the country before the defeat.
   A&M-Corpus Christi will return to action April 8 as it hosts Lamar.
   UC-IRVINE 5, TEXAS A&M-CC 2
   Singles
   1. Christophe Bergues (A&M-CC) def. Brett Lucas 5-7, 6-3, 6-0. 2. Oliver Schweizer (UCI) def. Stuart Beauchamp 6-1, 5-7, 6-4. 3. Chris Chung (UCI) def. Eusebie Oprea 6-3, 3-6, 7-5. 4. Alex Johansson (A&M-CC) def. David Matthews6-2, 6-1. 5. Chris Ma (UCI) def. Eric Von Hellens 7-6, 7-6 6. Zoran Korac (UCI) def. Tanner Payne2-6, 6-4, 6-4.
   Doubles
   1. Beauchamp/Bergues (A&M-CC) def. Ma/Chung 8-4. 2. Schweizer/Matthew (UCI) def. Johansson/Von Hellens 8-5. 3. Lucas/Korac (UCI) def. Oprea/Payne 8-6.



Staff writer Javier Becerra can be reached at 886-3734 or by e-mail at becerraj@caller.com

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