CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Texas A&M-Corpus Christi plated runs in every other inning to defeat No. 24 Lamar University, 7-3, Sunday afternoon at Chapman Field. It marks the first time all season the Cardinals (30-8/9-3 SLC) have dropped a series.
 
Lamar scored three runs on nine hits and were charged with two errors. The Cardinals scored solo runs in the second, third and eighth innings.
 
Five different Cardinals recorded hits led by multi-hit games from Zak Skinner (3-for-3, 3B, 2B, RBI, run), River Orsak (2-for-5, run) and Tanner Wilson (2-for-5).
 
The Islanders scored seven runs on 11 hits with an error. A&M-Corpus Christi scored one in the first, three in the third, two in the fifth and one more in the seventh.
 
Hunter Hesseltine got the start going 3.0 innings allowing four runs – two earned – on five hits with a walk. He was one of four Cardinals to take the mound. Peyton Havard pitched the fourth and fifth innings. Foster Kreuzer pitched 1.2 innings and Kyle Moseley pitched the final 1.1.
 
Zach Garcia got the win for the Islanders after going 7.0 innings allowing two runs on six hits with six strikeouts and two walks.
 
For the first time all series, the Islanders cracked the scoreboard first taking advantage of a walk, a single and an error to plate one. Lamar responded immediately with solo runs in the second and third innings.
 
Skinner opened the second inning by taking the first pitch he saw deep to right center. Skinner hustled all the way around to third. Unfortunately, the next two batters were unable to bring Skinner home, but with two outs Luke Bumpus brought him in on a single to left center.
 
In the third inning, the Cardinals scored another two-out run. With Dodge on first, Orsak singled up the middle and Skinner walked on four pitches. That brought Austin Roccaforte to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs. Just like Skinner's at-bat, Roccaforte never had to lift the bat off his shoulders drawing a four-pitch walk to bring the run in.
 
Lamar's lead didn't last long as the Islanders responded with three runs in the third and two more in the fifth to take a 6-2 lead. A&M-Corpus Christi tacked on a solo home run in the seventh to extend their lead to five, 7-2, headed into the eighth inning.
 
The Cards looked poised for a rally in the top half of the eighth when Orsak tripled to right center to open the inning. Two pitches later, Orsak trotted home when Skinner doubled down the right field line. Lamar had runners on first and second with two out in the inning but both runners were stranded.
 
Lamar also had a baserunner in the ninth but was unable to bring him home.
 
The Cardinals return to action Monday when they travel to Edinburg, Texas to take on UT Rio Grande Valley.  The game against the Vaqueros is set for a 6:30 p.m. first pitch from UTRGV Stadium. It will also be streamed on ESPN+.