March 18, 2005
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - Josh Mitchell threw a complete game for Texas A&M-Corpus Christi as the Islanders handed Purdue a 9-2 defeat at Islander Field. TAMUCC benefitted from six Boilermaker errors on the afternoon, three of which came in the Islanders' seven-run third inning. Purdue dropped to 1-11 on the season while TAMUCC moved to 17-10-1.
TAMUCC opened the scoring with an unearned run in the bottom of the second. In the third inning the Islanders took advantage of three fielding errors as they sent 11 hitters to the plate, connected for five hits, and plated seven runs. The inning was capped off by a two-run triple by shortstop Jaime Landin. TAMUCC extended its lead to 9-0 with a single run in the fifth.
Purdue got on the board in the seventh as Mitch Hilligoss led off the inning with a single, extending his hitting streak to 12 games. With one out, John Hunter singled up the middle to make it first and second. Then on a double steal, the throw from catcher Josh Plumaj sailed by Landin at second base allowing Hilligoss to score.
In the eighth, Mike Marx led off with a pinch-hit double down the line in left field. Hilligoss then drove Marx home with another double to make the score 9-2.
Scott Byrnes (0-3) got the start on the mound for Purdue, throwing five innings. Andrew Groves came out of the bullpen for the Boilermakers and turned in three scoreless innings in relief. With the win for TAMUCC, Mitchell evened his record at 3-3.
The Boilermakers will complete their eight-game Texas trip when they meet the Islanders again on Saturday for a 2 p.m. double header. Game one is scheduled for seven innings while game two is slated for a full nine. The twinbill will be played at Fairgrounds Field in Robstown.