BEAUMONT, Texas — Tab Tracy's two-RBI double in the bottom of the second proved to be the deciding factor Friday night as the Lamar University Cardinals defeated Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 2-0, at Vincent-Beck Stadium.

The Islanders got their leadoff man aboard with a single to left and then two outs later had runners at first and third after a single to right.

A&M-Corpus Christi ended up leaving the runners stranded as the third out was recorded on a pop up to Matt Ryan.

Damian Ruiz led off the bottom of the first with a single to center, but the next three batters were retired in order.

The Islanders left two more runners stranded in the top of the second to keep the game scoreless.

Zane Spinn reached second on an error by the third baseman to start the bottom of the second.

Heladio Moreno then pushed Spinn over to third on a sacrifice bunt.

Bryce Grizzaffi reached on a fielder's choice to second as Spinn was thrown out at the plate.

The Islanders' third baseman recorded his second error of the inning to put runners at first and third for Tracy who belted a double into the right center gap.

A&M-Corpus Christi starter Zach Garcia retired 16 in a row after Brayden Evans' single in the bottom of the third.

Ruiz ended the drought by drawing a walk in the bottom of the eighth.

Peyton Havard entered the game in the top of the seventh by striking out the side to help preserve the shutout.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Ruiz extended his on base streak to 23 games by going 1 for 3 with a single and a walk.
• Evans is now riding an 11-game hitting streak after finishing 1 for 4 with a single.
• Tracy went 1 for 3 with the double and two RBIs.
• There were only two walks in the ballgame between both pitching staffs.
• Riely Hunsaker improved to 2-2 after he allowed five hits in six innings of work with four strikeouts.
• Havard earned his first save of the season as he went three innings allowing two hits while tallying four strikeouts.

UP NEXT

Game 2 is at 5 p.m. Saturday, March 22.