Texas A&M-Corpus Christi senior pitcher Brian Anderson tossed seven innings of four-hit scoreless baseball Friday night as the Islanders knocked off Notre Dame 5-2 at Whataburger Field to snap a three-game losing streak.

The Islanders moved 3-7 on the year with their first-ever win at the Whataburger College Classic after six losses. Notre Dame falls to 4-5 on the season.

Anderson scattered four hits and struck out five in earning his first win of the season after dropping his first starts of the season. He allowed just three batters to reach scoring position in the contest.

Anderson was the beneficiary of some early offense by the Islanders. They scored single runs in each of their first two trips to the plate before adding two in the fourth.

“Momentum in any sport – football, basketball or baseball – is big,” said Islander head coach Scott Malone. “With Brian hanging zeroes like he did it gave us the momentum early.

“Baseball is a game of innings and he helped us win four innings. Six straight zeroes by Brian were big. He would be the first two tell you he was okay in his first two starts, but tonight he showed why he is our Friday starter.”

In the first inning, Paul Saville led off the inning with a walk. He would come around to score as Bryan Gerondale’s single to left was misplayed by Ross Brezovsky. A&M-Corpus Christi’s second run began with a lead-off single by Trey Hernandez. He crossed the plate on a one-out grounder by Martin Parra.

In the fourth, the Islanders doubled its lead with a two-run single by Parra to cap a two-out rally. After the first two batters were sent down on strikes by Irish starter David Phelps, Justin Greiner walked and Chase Williams singled. Williams advanced to second as Notre Dame tried unsuccessfully to throw out Greiner going for third. Parra drove both in with a liner to the left-center field gap.

“Martin has struggled the whole season with striking out, but he really kept fighting in that at bat,” said Malone. “I can’t say enough about him coming through with that hit with two outs and two strikes. He has been struggling and that was huge for him to come through with that hit.”  

Phelps tossed six innings allowing four runs on six hits falling to 1-2 on the season. He struck out eight batters, while walking four.

The final run of the inning came in the top of the seventh as Chase Wheaton lined a triple into the corner in left. Paul Saville, who reached on a bunt single, scored on the base hit.

Notre Dame scored a single run in both the eighth and ninth innings off Islander reliever Justin Grota. Grota tossed two innings scattering five hits and striking out two.

A&M-Corpus Christi finished the game with eight hits led by Wheaton and Hernandez with two apiece. Notre Dame had nine hits on the evening with three players – AJ Pollock, Evan Sharlpey, and Greg Sherry – posting two.

The Islanders face No. 1-ranked Arizona on Saturday at 7 p.m. The Wildcats handed South Alabama 18-0 in the opening game.