SAN ANTONIO — Texas A&M-Corpus Christi used a three-run sixth inning to pull away from UTSA and the Islanders handed the Roadrunners their first midweek loss of the season, 5-2, on Tuesday night at Roadrunner Field.
Right-hander Karan Patel was responsible for all five Islanders runs and took the loss in his six frames of work. He surrendered six hits, struck out three and walked just one.
UTSA (14-13) was held to a season-low four hits for the second consecuitve outing with two of those coming off the bat of reigning Conference USA Co-Hitter of the Week Bryan Arias. The second baseman was 2-for-4 with two doubles, a stolen base, one run scored and an RBI. Kevin Markham and Ben Brookover had the only other hits with Markham scoring a run and drawing a walk.
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (11-19) drew blood first in the third and scored its first two runs off sacrifice flies in back-to-back innings.
The Roadrunners responded in the bottom of the fourth to cut the lead in half after Arias led off the stanza with a double, stole third and scored on C.J. Pickering's fielder's choice.
Three runs in the sixth by the Islanders gave them a 5-1 cushion that lasted the rest of the way.
UTSA scored a late run in the eighth on an Arias RBI double and stranded two in the inning before ending the action on a fly out.
Islanders starter Chris Cooper earned the win in three innings of work as he allowed just one hit while recording a pair of strikeouts.
UTSA will return to Roadrunner Field on Wednesday for a 6 p.m. contest against Prairie View A&M.
