FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
Southwestern University looked impressive in their home opener against Mary Hardin-Baylor on Tuesday, splitting the double header 6-0 and 1-8.
In game one, the Pirates were able to get a couple of runners on early and had a few solid hits taken away by good defensive plays by the Crusaders. UMHB threatened in the top of the fourth with back to back singles, but the Pirates were able to end the threat on a fielder’s choice force out at second base.
Southwestern returned the threat in the bottom of the fourth. Freshman second baseman Nate Shipp was put on first with one out on a walk and advanced to second after junior right fielder John Wooten singled to center field. A grounder to first by senior catcher Michael Murphy moved Shipp and Wooten to second and third. The threat was ended on a strike out by sophomore first-baseman Kyle Belski.
The fourth inning momentum stuck around as the Pirates put together a string of hits and took advantage of Crusader errors in the bottom of the 5th. Lowry led off the inning for the Pirates by reaching on a error by Crusader third baseman, Josh Fredrick. Senior third-baseman Ricky Gomez singled to advance Lowry to second. A bunt single by freshman left-fielder Cray Betts loaded the bases for the Pirates. Brent McMullen knocked in 2 runs on a single to left field. T. Boone followed with a walk to once again load the bases. A passed ball allowed Betts to score and moved the remaining two Pirates into scoring position. After a balk scored McMullen, Shipp was hit by a pitch which sent him to first to load the bases for the third time in the inning.
After a Crusader pitching change, Wooten flied out to short to bring up Murphy. Murphy’s single to left field drove in Boone for the fifth run of the inning. A Belski walk loaded the bases again for Lowry. Lowry’s walk brought in Shipp for the sixth and final run of the inning.
The Pirates had 7 hits on the afternoon and committed 2 errors in game one. McMullen went 2-2 in game one with 2 RBI’s and 1 run.
Southwestern 1, Mary Hardin Baylor 8
Game two started off well for the Pirates as they were able to push one across the plate in the second inning as Belski scored on a ground ball to second base by Gomez. The run would be the only score for the Pirates in the game.
The Crusaders put up a tying run in the top of the first and took the lead in the fourth inning, scoring 2. The Crusaders continued to mount their lead in the fifth and sixth innings, pushing two and three runs respectively across the plate.
Walks proved detrimental for the Pirates as the pitching staff walked nine Crusaders in the second game.
The Pirates head to Texas Wesleyan on Wednesday, February 4th for a single game match-up starting at 1:00 pm.