The Islanders (33-22, 18-14) leaped over Sam Houston (34-21, 17-15) into fourth place in the Southland Conference standings with the victory.

Prior to the start of the game, Sam Houston head coach Mark Johnson was honored in a pregame ceremony. Johnson, who is the 44th head coach in NCAA Division I history to win more than 1,000 games, is retiring at the end of the 2011 season.

Third baseman Bobby Bucker started things quickly for the Islanders, leading off the first inning with a bunt single and scoring on a single by left fielder Matt Holland to put TAMUCC up 1-0.

Shortstop Weston Montgomery produced a stand-up double with a shot down the left field line to make to give the Islanders a 2-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning.  The hit scored center fielder Chris Vergne who singled and moved to second on a walk.

Sam Houston missed an opportunity in the bottom of the fifth when center fielder Mark Hudson led off with a double, moved to third on a ground ball but was thrown out at home after a sharply hit shot to the Islander first basesman.

TAMCC returned the favor in the top of the sixth with a pop up to first base and a strike out after putting runners on second and third with one out.

Sam Houston ended a streak of 14 scoreless innings with a run in the bottom of the eighth inning. Catcher John Hale singled, moved to second on a single by first baseman Daniel Nottebart, reached third on a walk then scored on a wild pitch. With two outs and the bases loaded, third baseman Kevin Miller struck out.

The Islanders added three insurance runs in the top of the ninth inning. Sean Washington and Drew Vest chalked up an RBI apiece in the inning.

Simko (9-7) was the game winner. Sam Houston starter Matt Shelton (7-2) took the loss.

Sam Houston and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi will wrap up the regular season with the final game of the series Saturday at 1 p.m.  Both teams have wrapped up berths in the 2011 Southland post-season tournament which begins Wednesday in San Marcos.