HUNTSVILLE, TX -- A&M-Corpus Christi, the eighth place team in the Southland Conference, handed league leading Sam Houston a 5-2 defeat Friday night in the first contest in a three-game weekend series at Don Sanders Stadium.

The Islanders made the big hits when they counted, totaling their five runs on six hits and one Bearkat error.
No. 22 Sam Houston totaled only five hits. The Bearkats dropped to 29-12 for the year and 17-5 in Southland action. A&M-Corpus Christi now stands 18-24 and 10-12 in league play.

Center fielder Colt Atwood and first baseman Ryan O’Hearn led off the bottom of the first inning with a pair of singles. Third baseman Kevin Miller singled up the middle to score both and give Sam Houston what proved to be their only runs of the game.

Starter Caleb Smith held the Islanders hitless the first four innings.

But Brad Porras led off the fifth inning with a home run to left center. Weston Montgomery’s RBI single and a sacrifice fly by Eric Weiss suddenly put A&M-Corpus Christi in front 3-2. One inning later, back-to-back doubles by Jordan Lee and Brad Porras gave the Islanders a 4-2 lead and Smith’s night was over.

Reliever Jordan Bunch gave up a walk and a single in the top of the seventh. Jon Gonzales brought in another run for TAMUCC with a sacrifice fly to right field after Taylor Holt replaced Bunch.

Trevor Foss (1-6) was the winning pitcher for the Islanders, spreading five hits over six innings and striking out nine batters. Tyler Schnuriger threw two and a third innings in relief and Phillip Garcia picked up his fifth save of the year, getting the final two outs.

Smith (6-3) gave up four hits and four runs in five innings to take the loss. Jordan Bunch, Taylor Holt and Andrew Godail threw in relief.

Sam Houston and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi meet at 4 p.m. Saturday in the second game of the series.