GEORGETOWN, Texas — Southwestern baseball continued its recent momentum with a pair of seven-inning wins in a home doubleheader against the Hardin-Simmons University Cowboys.
Game 1 | Southwestern 12, Hardin-Simmons 2
Aaron Clark pitched a complete game to pick up his first decision in four appearances in the Pirates' 12-2 victory. Clark went seven innings, striking out seven and surrendering seven hits with four walks and two runs, only one of which was earned.
Preston Witt put the Pirates on the board in the bottom of the first inning, hitting a two-out RBI-double to score Daniel Montgomery Jr., who reached on a walk. Southwestern added two more runs in the bottom of the second on Maxwell Mims' two-RBI double to left field, scoring Chase Thinger and Bryce Debbs, who reached on an error.
Southwestern's first six hitters reached base to open the bottom of the third in a four-run inning. Witt and Landon Durdin started with back-to-back walks. Lance Kruse singled to right, loading the bases, and Debbs followed with a two-RBI single through the infield's left side.
Matthew Escamilla drew a walk, and Chase Thinger was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to bring in another run, ending Hardin-simons' starting pitcher Raby Hampton's afternoon. Riley Rice took over and induced a pop-up. Kyle Porter reached on a fielder's choice with Debbs scoring when Hardin-Simmons failed to turn the 6-4-3 double play, taking a 7-0 lead.
Hardin-Simmons took advantage of runners on the corners in the fourth inning, scoring Craig Symmes from third when the Pirates made an unsuccessful throw to second on Nate Blachowicz's steal. The Cowboys added another run in the fifth, scoring on an error.
Isaiah Daniels took the mound for Hardin-Simmons to start the sixth, hitting Witt and walking Durdin to start the inning. Kruse flew out to center, advancing Witt to third. Debbs walked to load the bases, and after an Escamilla strikeout, Thinger walked to bring in another run. Mims followed with a three-RBI triple to right-center, and Jake Harris hit an RBI-single to left.
Clark closed the game by retiring Hardin-Simmons in order.
Game 2 | Southwestern 5, Hardin-Simmons 3
Maxwell Mims and Daniel Montgomery Jr. had two RBIs each, and the Southwestern Pirates got solid performances from its bullpen to defeat Hardin-Simmons 5-3.
Hardin-Simmons struck early against Southwestern starter Hutch Hornfischer, getting a leadoff single from Zach Hudson and a one-out RBI-double from Garrett Frazier. Jeremy Colon singled to left, and Colin Ethridge reached on an error, scoring Frazier for the 2-0 lead.
Southwestern responded immediately. Ted Lobkowicz opened the bottom of the inning with a walk, and Maxwell Mims capitalized with a two-run home run to tie the game. Hardin-Simmons retook the lead in the top of the third on Cody Harral's RBI-infield single. Southwestern tied the game in the boom of the inning, scoring on an error.
Hardin-Simmons intentionally walked Mims in the bottom of the fourth, loading the bases for Montgomery, who hit a two-RBI single to left field.
The Southwestern bullpen took it from there. J.J. Slack took over in the third and pitched 2.2 scoreless innings, striking out four with two walks and only one hit. Trey Schwarz took over in the top of the seventh, giving up one hit while striking out two and picking up the save.
Mims had a monster night for Southwestern, hitting 4-for-7 with a single, double, triple, and home run in two games, finishing the night with seven RBIs and two runs scored.
Southwestern has now won seven in a row, moving two games above .500 at 14-12. The Pirates will travel to Seguin this weekend to face Texas Lutheran in a three-game series.