SAN MARCOS — Bobby Buckner hit a walk-off solo home run with two out in the ninth to propel No. 3 seed Texas A&M-Corpus Christi past sixth-seeded UTSA, 2-1, in an elimination game on Friday morning at the Southland Conference Tournament. The loss ended the Roadrunners' season at 27-32, while the Islanders improved to 36-23 and advanced to play No. 2 Stephen F. Austin later today at 4 p.m.
The son of 22-year Major League veteran Bill Buckner deposited an 0-2 offering from senior right-hander Kevin Clarke (3-5) just over the wall in right center for his first homer of the season.
That made a winner out of Tanner Green (2-0), who tossed a scoreless top half of the ninth, allowing just a lead-off single to sophomore Daniel Rockett.
UTSA grabbed an early lead in the second when freshman Mike Warren plated sophomore Ryan Dalton with a base hit through the right side of the infield.
A&M-Corpus Christi tied the contest a frame later on on Trey Hernandez' run-scroing double down the left-field line.
Freshman starting pitcher Blake Denman limited the Islanders to just five hits through a career-high 6.1 innings. He fanned three and walked a pair.
Clarke relieved Denman with a runner on and one down in the seventh and promptly loaded the bases before striking out Hernandez on a 2-2 fastball to end the threat.
Senior Tyler Carpenter was hit by a pitch with one out in the eighth and then stole second base before being stranded in scoring position.
