CONWAY, Ark. _ The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders exploded for six runs in the first inning off University of Central Arkansas ace Tyler Gray and rolled to a 16-3 victory in their Southland Conference series opener on Friday night at Bear Stadium.

Gray allowed 10 runs in six innings of work _ but none after the second inning _ to drop to 5-1 on the season. The Islanders totaled 18 hits off three UCA pitchers, adding a three-run inning in the sixth and a four-run frame in the eighth. The Bears (23-18, 11-8), who drew 10 walks from five Islander pitchers, left 15 runners on base, tying their second-highest total of the season.

The Bears put up all three of their runs in the sixth inning against Corpus Christi starter Aaron Hernandez (2-5), who left in that inning with 4 strikeouts and 6 walks, allowing three earned runs. Senior third baseman Rigo Aguilar led off with a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Two batters later, senior center fielder Keaton Presley hit his team-leading seventh home to left field. 

Junior left fielder Hunter Strong, the only Bear with multiple hits, hit an RBI double down the line to score T.J. Black with UCA's third run.
Freshman Logan Gilbertson of Cabot pitched a scoreless final 1 2/3 innings for the Bears in his first SLC action of the season.

A&M-CC catcher Drake Osborn had a pair of home runs, going 3 for 4 with 5 RBI. Left fielder Itchy Burts went 3 for 5 with 3 runs scored and second baseman Andruid Martinez also had three hits.

Game 2 of the series is set for 4 p.m. Saturday.