Islanders Score Four Runs in First in 4-1 Win over Lamar to Stay Alive
SAN MARCOS, Texas - Texas A&M-Corpus Christi scored all the runs it needed in the top of the first inning to stay alive with a 4-1 victory over Lamar in the first elimination game of the 2011 Southland Conference Baseball Tournament.
The Islanders (35-23) led off the game with a single by third baseman Bobby Buckner. Jeramie Marek bunted him over to second before a single through the left side by Matt Holland brought him home for the quick 1-0 lead.
Lamar (29-27) starting pitcher Zach Boulanger walked the next two batters to load the bases and that prompted skipper Jim Gilligan to make an early call to the bullpen for Machon Trimm, who walked in the second Islanders run. Trimm got Weston Montgomery to swing at strike three for the second out of the inning before designated hitter Caleb Marx plated A&M-Corpus Christi's final two runs with a single through the left side.
That gave Islander starter Todd Simko (10-6) a four-run lead before he even threw his first pitch. Simko allowed the lone unearned run in the bottom of the fourth inning. It was a sacrifice fly in foul ground by Andy Mena that scored Pablo Salinas, who reached base on an error. Simko allowed only three hits in nine innings, striking out seven with three walks in his third complete game of the season.
Boulanger was saddled with his second loss (0-2). Trimm and John Gilligan shut down the Islanders the rest of the way, giving up just five hits over 8.2 innings.
Buckner and Holland each had two hits to lead the Islanders. Marx had two RBI, while Holand and Jacob Perales each drove in one. Aaron Buchanan, Ted Zentek and Cameron Johnson accounted for the three Lamar hits.
A&M-Corpus Christi awaits the loser between Stephen F. Austin and UTSA for a Friday 9 a.m. first pitch. The Lumberjacks and Roadrunners play a winner's bracket game Thursday at 4 p.m.
Game Five Quotes:
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Coach Scott Malone
On confidence from top of first
"I thought Bobby Buckner, our leadoff guy, did a great job. Everyone is going to look and say the starter struggled but it was strike one, strike two. It was 0-2 and he gets the big base hit and all of a sudden he gets rattled a bit. I thought Buckner's at bat was huge and he played great defense for us behind Todd (Simko)."
On performance of Todd Selko
Todd was outstanding. I felt the innings that Todd got ahead of hitters, they didn't have a chance, because his stuff was so good. There were a few innings he got behind and they got in some hitters counts, which allowed them to hit some balls hard. Overall though Todd was outstanding."
Texas A&M Corpus Christi pitcher Todd Simko
"After a tough loss yesterday, we had to go out there and throw a pitch and let them hit it. The defense did a great job. We scored early and it's easy pitching with a big lead. I just went out there, threw strikes and it worked out for me."
On what win does for confidence
"We got two more games tomorrow. This is just a start of where we want to go; we still got a long road ahead of us. We're going to play our game and see what happens."
Outfielder Matt Holland
On importance of getting big lead
"I thought if we got a lead early it would help our confidence. They lost a tough game yesterday to, so we wanted to get the momentum and have it carry us through."
On difference between first two Lamar pitchers
"The first pitcher didn't look like he had his stuff today. The lefty came in and competed. He didn't have anything spectacular. He was getting us out in front of pitches, competed and threw really well for a few innings."
Lamar Coach Jim Gilligan
"We only got three hits, one run. It's so hard to put something together on them. I feel sorry for Bo (starting pitcher Zach Boulanger), he went up there and got the first two strikes, gave up a ground ball hit, then to Holland another ground ball hit and then two walks. That was their offense right there. (Machon) Trimm came in and did a great job. We put a lot of zeroes on the board which gave us a chance to stay in the ballgame, we just couldn't get anything going on them."