# 2024 Texas A&M–Corpus Christi Islanders baseball team

The 2024 Texas A&M–Corpus Christi Islanders baseball team represented Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi during the 2024 NCAA Division I baseball season. The Islanders played their home games at Chapman Field. They were led by seventeenth–year head coach Scott Malone as members of the Southland Conference. They compiled a 22–35 overall record and a 10–14 record in conference play in three–way tie for sixth place. The Islanders qualified for the SLC tournament as the 7th seeded team. Their season ended with a 0–2 record in conference tournament play losing to Nicholls 2–14$^7$ and New Orleans 4–7.

## Previous season

The Islanders had a regular season record of 24–30 and a conference record of 12–12 finishing in a three way tie for fifth place in SLC play. They qualified as the seventh seeded team in the 2023 Southland Conference baseball tournament. Their season ended losing a sudden–death tournament opening game against sixth seeded McNeese.

## Preseason
### Southland Conference Coaches Poll

The Southland Conference Coaches Poll was released on February 8, 2024. Texas A&M–Corpus Christi was picked to finish eighth in the Southland Conference with 55 votes.
Coaches poll :
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
| 1 | Nicholls | 126 (14) |
| 2 | Lamar | 106 (1) |
| 3 | New Orleans | 92 (3) |
| 4 | Incarnate Word | 81 |
| 5 | McNeese | 67 |
| 6 | Texas A&M–Corpus Christi | 55 |
| 7 | Southeastern Louisiana | 53 |
| 8 | Northwestern State | 42 |
| 9 | Houston Christian | 26 |

### Preseason All-Southland team

Christian Smith-Johnson was named to the conference preseason second team.

#### First Team

* Edgar Alvarez* (NICH, SR, 1st Base)
* MaCrae Kendrick (NICH, SR, 2nd Base)
* Ethan Ruiz (LU, SR, 3rd Base)
* Parker Coddou* (NICH, SR, Shortstop)
* Miguel Useche (UNO, SR, Catcher)
* Rey Mendoza* (UIW, GR, Designated Hitter)
* Mitchell Sanford* (UNO, RJR, Outfielder)
* Samuel Benjamin* (HCU, SR, Outfielder)
* Issac Williams (UNO, SR, Outfielder)
* Jacob Mayers* (NICH, SO, Starting Pitcher)
* Brooks Caple* (LU, SR, Starting Pitcher)
* Hunter Hesseltine* (LU, JR, Starting Pitcher)
* Gavin Galy* (NICH, RJR, Relief Pitcher)
* Kanin Dodge (LU, SR, Utility)
*-2023 Southland All-Conference Selection

#### Second Team

* Cameron Crotte (UIW, SR, 1st Base)
* Austin Roccaforte (LU, SR, 2nd Base)
* Dylan Mach (UNO, SR, 3rd Base)
* Jake Haze* (SLU, GR, Shortstop)
* Bo Willis (NWST, SR, Catcher)
* River Orsak (LU, SR, Designated Hitter)
* Garrett Felix (NICH, SR, Outfielder)
* Cooper Hext (MCNS, SR, Outfielder)
* Christian Smith-Johnson (TAMUCC, SO, Outfielder)
* Chase Prestwich (NWST, JR, Starting Pitcher)
* Isaiah Zavala (UIW, GR, Starting Pitcher)
* Jacob Ellis (LU, SR, Starting Pitcher)
* Jackson Cleveland (LU, JR, Relief Pitcher)
* Isaiah Zavala (UIW, SR, Utility)
*-2023 Southland All-Conference Selection

## Schedule and results

Legend :
| | Texas A&M–Corpus Christi win |
| | Texas A&M–Corpus Christi loss |
| | Postponement/Cancelation/Suspensions |
| Bold | Texas A&M–Corpus Christi team member |
| * | Non-Conference game |
| † | Make-Up Game |
2024 Texas A&M–Corpus Christi Islanders baseball game log :
Regular season (22–33) :
February (4–7) :
| Date | Opponent | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record |
| SFA Tournament ||||||||||||
| Feb 16 | vs. Central Michigan* | Pilgram's Park • Nacogdoches, TX | 3–1 (11 inn) | Feltz, Samuel (1-0) | E. Waters (0-1) | None | | | 1–0 |
| Feb 17 | vs. Central Michigan* | Pilgram's Park • Nacogdoches, TX | 13–1 (7 inn) | Hunsaker, Riely (1-0) | B. Vitas (0-1) | None | | | 2–0 |
| Feb 17 | at Stephen F. Austin* | Pilgram's Park • Nacogdoches, TX | 10–17 | Cade Stapleton (1-0) | Dean, Austin (0-1) | None | | | 2–1 |
| Feb 18 | at Stephen F. Austin* | Pilgram's Park • Nacogdoches, TX | 5–13 | E. Balmaceda (1-0) | Soliz, Cam (0-1) | W. Larson (1) | | | 2–2 |
| Feb 20 | Kansas* | Whataburger Field • Corpus Christi, TX | 7–13 | Cranton, Hunter (1-0) | Dean, Austin (0-1) | None | FloBaseball | 376 | 2–3 |
| Feb 21 | Texas Southern* | Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX | 8–4 | Hendricks, Evans (1-0) | Dalton Alford (0-2) | None | | 252 | 3–3 |
| Kleberg Bank College Classic ||||||||||||
| Feb 23 | Maryland* | Whataburger Field • Corpus Christi, TX | 5–7 | Haberthier, Nate (1-0) | Dean, Austin (0-3) | Sarcone, Trystan (1) | FloBaseball | 1,114 | 3–4 |
| Feb 24 | Washington* | Whataburger Field • Corpus Christi, TX | 4–11 | Boyle, Sam (1-1) | Hunsaker, Riely (1-1) | None | FloBaseball | 952 | 3–5 |
| Feb 25 | Pittsburgh* | Whataburger Field • Corpus Christi, TX | 2–10 | Jack Sokol (1-0) | Thornton, Maddox (0-1) | Ethan Firoved (1) | FloBaseball | 725 | 3–6 |
| Feb 26 | Pittsburgh* | Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX | 2–10 | Jack Sokol (1-0 | Thornton, Maddox (0-1) | Ethan Firoved (1) | | 725 | 3–7 |
| South Texas Showdown ||||||||||||
| Feb 28 | at UT Rio Grande Valley* | UTRGV Baseball Stadium • Edinburg, TX | 2–1 | Hendricks, Evans (2-0) | Hernandez, Francisco (1-1) | Thornton, Maddox (1) | ESPN+ | 1,618 | 4–7 |
March (9–12) :
| Date | Opponent | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SLC Record |
| Mar 1 | Abilene Christian* | Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX | 2–7 | Glaze, Austin (2-0) | Watson, Matthew (0-1) | None | ESPN+ | 325 | 4–8 | |
| Mar 2 | Abilene Christian* | Whataburger Field • Corpus Christi, TX | 6–1 | Hunsaker, Riely (2-1) | Campa, Iain (2-1) | Thornton, Maddox (2) | | 423 | 5–8 | |
| Mar 3 | Abilene Christian* | Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX | 5–2 | Garcia, Zach (1-0) | De La Cruz, Rolando (0-1) | Hendricks, Evans (1) | ESPN+ | 212 | 6–8 | |
| Mar 5 | at Texas State* | Bobcat Baseball Stadium • San Marcos, TX | 6–5 | Stuart, David (1-0) | Stroud, Jack (1-2) | Thornton, Maddox (3) | | 1,942 | 7–8 | |
| Mar 8 | UTSA* | Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX | 4–2 | Watson, Matthew (1-1) | Robert Orloski (1-2) | Hendricks, Evans (2) | ESPN+ | 243 | 8–8 | |
| Mar 9 | UTSA* | Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX | 4–5 | Ruger Riojas (4-0) | Thornton, Maddox (0-2) | Fischer Kingsbery (1) | ESPN+ | 267 | 8–9 | |
| Mar 10 | UTSA* | Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX | 6–4 | Dove, Kendall (1-0) | Daniel Garza (0-1) | None | ESPN+ | 280 | 9–9 | |
| South Texas Showdown ||||||||||||
| Mar 12 | UT Rio Grande Valley* | Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX | 2–5 | Tejada, Anthony (1-0) | Dove, Kendall (1-1) | Hernandez, Francisco (2) | ESPN+ | 267 | 9–10 | |
| Mar 13 | University of Houston–Victoria* | Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX | 14–1 | Hill, Jack (1-0) | Parker, Brady (4-2) | None | ESPN+ | 150 | 10–10 | |
| Mar 15 | at Dallas Baptist* | Horner Ballpark • Dallas, TX | 5–10 | JOHNSON, Ryan (3-0) | Watson, Matthew (1-2) | None | | 885 | 10–11 | |
| Mar 16 | at Dallas Baptist* | Horner Ballpark • Dallas, TX | 1–11 (8 inn) | DeBERRY, JARON (2-0) | Hunsaker, Riely (2-2) | None | | 630 | 10–12 | |
| Mar 17 | at Dallas Baptist* | Horner Ballpark • Dallas, TX | 4–5 | WILSON, Nick (3-1) | Thornton, Maddox (0-3) | None | | 790 | 10–13 | |
| Mar 19 | Northwestern* | Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX | 5–16 (7 inn) | MCCLURE, MATT (1-2) | Dove, Kendall (1-2) | None | ESPN+ | 259 | 10–14 | |
| Mar 20 | Northwestern* | Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX | 6–7 (7 inn) | DYKE, JACK (1-0) | Stuart, David (1-1) | None | ESPN+ | 210 | 10–15 | |
| Mar 22 | at Incarnate Word | Sullivan Field • San Antonio, TX | 7–12 (7 inn) | Salinas, Josh (2-0) | Watson, Matthew (1-3) | None | ESPN+ | 103 | 10–16 | 0–1 |
| Mar 23 | at Incarnate Word | Sullivan Field • San Antonio, TX | 11–5 | Hunsaker, Riely (3-2) | Zavala, Isaiah (2-2) | Hill, Jack (1) | ESPN+ | 144 | 11–16 | 1–1 |
| Mar 24 | at Incarnate Word | Sullivan Field • San Antonio, TX | 14–12 | Garcia, Zach (2-0) | Walls, Westin (2-2) | None | ESPN+ | 152 | 12–16 | 2–1 |
| Mar 26 | at Texas* | UFCU Disch–Falk Field • Austin, TX | 4–1 | Feltz, Samuel (2-0) | Selvig, Cole (0-2) | Thornton, Maddox (4) | ESPN+ | 7,128 | 13–16 | |
| Mar 28 | Nicholls | Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX | 3–7 | Nelson, Jack (1-1) | Watson, Matthew (1-4) | Desandro, Devin (2) | ESPN+ | 230 | 13–17 | 2–2 |
| Mar 29 | Nicholls | Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX | 8–13 | Moran, Dallis (1-0) | Hill, Jack (1-2) | None | | 233 | 13–18 | 2–3 |
| Mar 30 | Nicholls | Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX | 4–11 | Guerrero, Michael (1-0) | Feltz, Samuel (2-1) | None | | 252 | 13–19 | 2–4 |
April (8–8) :
| Date | Opponent | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SLC Record |
| Apr 2 | Prairie View* | Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX | 10–3 | Soliz, Cam (1-0) | Allen, Preston (0-3) | None | ESPN+ | 222 | 14–19 | |
| Apr 5 | at Northwestern State | H. Alvin Brown–C. C. Stroud Field • Natchitoches, LA | 4–11 | Prestwich, Chase (3-3) | Dove, Kendall (1-3) | Bunch, Caleb (2) | ESPN+ | 436 | 14–20 | 2–5 |
| Apr 6 | at Northwestern State | H. Alvin Brown–C. C. Stroud Field • Natchitoches, LA | 5–4 | Hunsaker, Riely (4-2) | Flowers, Dawson (1-2) | Thornton, Maddox (5) | ESPN+ | 656 | 15–20 | 3–5 |
| Apr 7 | at Northwestern State | H. Alvin Brown–C. C. Stroud Field • Natchitoches, LA | 7–2 | Garcia, Zach (3-0) | Marionneaux, Dylan (2-5) | None | ESPN+ | 673 | 16–20 | 4–5 |
| Apr 10 | at Rice* | Reckling Park • Houston, TX | 3–5 | Mark Perkins (1-0) | Feltz, Samuel (2-2) | Reed Gallant (1) | | 1,908 | 16–21 | |
| Apr 12 | Houston Christian | Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX | 2–6 | Hamilton, Jackson (1-1) | Hill, Jack (1-3) | None | ESPN+ | 350 | 16–22 | 4–6 |
| Apr 13 | Houston Christian | Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX | 1–17 | Edwards, Parker (4-4) | Hunsaker, Riely (4-3) | None | ESPN+ | 150 | 16–23 | 4–7 |
| Apr 14 | Houston Chrisian | Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX | 13–12 | Thornton, Maddox (1-3) | Feltman, Jett (2-3) | Hill, Jack (2) | ESPN+ | 252 | 17–23 | 5–7 |
| Apr 16 | at UTSA* | Roadrunner Field • San Antonio, TX | 2–4 | Beaird,Ryan (1-0) | Flaugher, Joshua (0-2) | Riojas,Ruger (6) | ESPN+ | 652 | 17–24 | |
| Apr 19 | Lamar | Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX | 6–3 | Soliz, Cam (2-0) | Neal, Austin (2-1) | None | ESPN+ | 350 | 18–24 | 6–7 |
| Apr 20 | Lamar | Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX | 3–6 | Ellis, Jacob (7-0) | Hunsaker, Riely (4-4) | Perez, Andres (5) | ESPN+ | 250 | 18–25 | 6–8 |
| Apr 21 | Lamar | Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX | 7–3 | Garcia, Zach (4-0) | Hesseltine, Hunter (4-1) | None | ESPN+ | 382 | 19–25 | 7–8 |
| Apr 24 | at Prairie View* | John W. Tankersley Field • Prairie View, TX | 8–10 | Elijah Breeden (2-1) | Soliz, Cam (1-1) | Victor Mendoza (3) | | 52 | 19–26 | |
| Apr 26 | at New Orleans | Maestri Field at Privateer Park • New Orleans, LA | 2–0 | Watson, Matthew (2-4) | Mercer, Colton (5-4) | Hunsaker, Riely (1) | ESPN+ | 345 | 20–26 | 8–8 |
| Apr 27 | at New Orleans | Maestri Field at Privateer Park • New Orleans, LA | 11–6 | Soliz, Cam (3-1) | Edwards, Grant (4-4) | Thornton, Maddox (6) | ESPN+ | 357 | 21–26 | 9–8 |
| Apr 28 | at New Orleans | Maestri Field at Privateer Park • New Orleans, LA | 3–5 | Dennis, Cortez (1-2) | Garcia, Zach (4-1) | Tyson-Long, Kyrin (4) | ESPN+ | 695 | 21–27 | 9–9 |
May (1–6) :
| Date | Opponent | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SLC Record |
| May 3 | McNeese | Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX | 3–7 | Ty Abraham (3-2) | Dove, Kendall (1-4) | Cameron LeJeune (5) | ESPN+ | 182 | 21–28 | 9–10 |
| May 4 | McNeese | Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX | 4–9 | Gravel, Alexis (1-3) | Hill, Jack (1-4) | None | ESPN+ | 235 | 21–29 | 9–11 |
| May 5 | McNeese | Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX | 10–13 | LeJeune, Cameron (6-2) | Soliz, Cam (3-2) | None | ESPN+ | 245 | 21–30 | 9–12 |
| South Texas Showdown ||||||||||||
| Mar 14 | UT Rio Grande Valley* | Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX | 3–4 | Tejada, A (3-2) | Flaugher, Joshua (0-3) | Lopez, J (2) | ESPN+ | 189 | 20–31 | |
| May 16 | at Southeastern Louisiana | Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field • Hammond, LA | 4–12 | Stuprich, Brennan (5-3) | Dove, Kendall (1-5) | None | ESPN+ | 1,076 | 21–32 | 9–13 |
| May 16 | at Southeastern Louisiana | Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field • Hammond, LA | 8–9 | Fabre, Larson (3-1) | Garcia, Zach (4-2) | Rodriguez, Jackson (7) | ESPN+ | 1,297 | 21–33 | 9–14 |
| May 17 | at Southeastern Louisiana | Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field • Hammond, LA | 9–8 | Matthew Watson (3-4) | Hayden Robb (3-3) | None | ESPN+ | 1,260 | 22–33 | 10–14 |
Post-season (0–2) :
Southland Tournament (0–2) :
| Date | Opponent | (Seed)/Rank | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | Tournament record |
| May 22 | vs. (2) Nicholls | (7) | Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field • Hammond, LA | 2–14 (7 inn) | Mayers, Jacob (5-1) | Garcia, Zach (4-3) | None | ESPN+ | | 22–34 | 0–1 |
| May 23 | vs. (3) New Orleans | (7) | Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field • Hammond, LA | 4–7 | Olivier, Chris(2-1) | Hunsaker, Riley(4-5) | None | ESPN+ | | 22–35 | 0–2 |
Legend:        = Win        = Loss        = Canceled Bold = Texas A&M–Corpus Christi team member Rankings are based on the team's current ranking in the D1Baseball poll. :
    Schedule Source:

## Conference awards and honors
### Weekly awards

Weekly honors :
| Honors | Player | Position | Date Awarded | Ref. |
| SLC Pitcher of the Week | Riely Hunsaker | RHP | February 19, 2024 | |