NACOGDOCHES – Bryan Gerondale, Chase Wheaton, and Martin Parra combined to drive in 15 runs as the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi baseball team outscored Stephen F. Austin 19-16 Sunday afternoon to complete the series sweep.

The 19 runs were a season-high for the Islanders who had five home runs in the game including two by Parra. Chase Williams, Gerondale, and Wheaton each had one long ball on the afternoon. TAMUCC had 18 hits on the day tying its season with nine for extra bases. Ernie Olivares, Williams and Gerondale eadh had three hits.

SFA had four homers on the afternoon and had 17 hits led by Kevin Croft with four. Kevin Crabtree and Kai Kirby each had three.

“We had a great day at the plate and the guys didn’t give up,” said A&M-Corpus Christi head coach Scott Malone. “The big thing was everyone contributed. We didn’t rely on Stephen Flora or Trey Hernandez. The rest of the guys had to do it – Martin, Bryan, Wheaton they all had big days. Ernie had a big day.

“Chase Williams continues to swing a hot bat and we need that if we are to be a good offense.”

The series sweep was the second of the season for the Islanders and first road sweep of the season to move to 8-7 in the Southland Conference and 13-23 overall. TAMUCC finishes the weekend tied for sixth in the conference with Southeastern Louisiana and UT Arlington. SFA is now 3-11 in the league and 14-20 overall.

The Islanders jumped out of the gate for six runs in the top of the first. Williams, who scored three runs and drove in three, led off the game with a single and went to second as Brycen Bell walked. After Flora lined out to right, Hernandez loaded the bases when he was hit by an Erik Gregersen pitch. Wheaton and Gerondale followed with back-to-back two-run doubles to give the Islanders a 4-0 lead. Parra followed with a two-run home run off Gregersen.

After SFA’s Crabtree hit a solo home run in the bottom of the first, A&M-Corpus Christi scored three runs in the top of the second to take a 9-2 lead. Williams and Bell each walked to start the inning forcing Gregesen from the game. Williams scored as Wheaton reached on a fielder’s choice. Gerondale then picked up his second two-run hit of the game with a single to right, but was thrown out trying for second.

The Lumberjacks cut in the Islander lead with single runs in the second and third innings to pull within 9-3.

Wheaton pushed A&M-Corpus Christi into double-digit runs in the fourth with a two-run home run to left. It was his third home run of the season.

The Lumberjacks exploded for 10 runs on nine hits in the bottom of the fourth as they sent 14 batters to the plate. The hosts scored nine runs before an out was recorded. SFA began the scoring with a two-run home run by Kirby off TAMUCC starter Roy Ferdin. 

After Ferdin allowed a single to Jeff Brewer, Crabtree lined a single to left field off Brett Gips, who loaded the bases by walking Sean Meyers. Croft and Justin Roland followed with RBI singles before Matt Whatley hit a home run to right field. Brian Ferguson followed with a solo home run. Trent Blanchard scored an unearned run for the final run on a sacrifice by Brewer.

“Roy wasn’t as good as he needed to be,” said Malone. “We need him to be more consistent.”

A&M-Corpus Christi answered with eight runs in its next three at bats to regain the lead 19-13. Four of the runs came off Kevin Thomas, who was credited with the loss. He is 2-4 on the season

After Williams drove in Olivarez with single in the fifth, A&M-Corpus Christi hitters roped a pair of two-run home runs in the sixth. Parra became the third Islander this season to go deep twice in a game and Williams hit his second of the year.

TAMUCC tallied its final three runs in the seventh. Gerondale picked up his final two RBI of the game with a home run to left-center field. Parra, who was hit by a pitch, came around to score on a double by Olivarez. Olivarez had three extra-base hits in the games with a pair of doubles and a triple.

SFA tried to rally in the bottom of the seventh with three runs. Crabtree and Meyers each drew walks from Islander reliever Brian Anderson. Anderson tossed two innings of one-hit baseball before struggling in the seventh to earn the win. He is now 2-5.

Croft drove in Crabtree for his fourth RBI of the game. Anderson then loaded the bases by walking Justin Roland with Meyers coming home on a Mike Miller walk with no outs. Croft crossed the plate as Justin Grota forced Ferguson to hit into a double play.

Grota pitched 1-2/3 innings of relief allowing one hit before giving away to Brian Gibson who allowed on hit in 1-1/3 innings of work. Gibson earned his second save of the series and third of the season.

The Islanders are off until next weekend when Lamar comes to town for a three-game

series. The series will be played at Fairgrounds Field in Robstown. Friday’s game is set for a 6:30 p.m. start with Saturday’s game at 3 p.m. Sunday’s finale is at 1 p.m.