The Pirate baseball team gained some momentum heading into conference play this weekend by splitting a double header with the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton on Tuesday.

In game one, three Pirate pitchers combined to give up 2 runs and 6 hits. Both Crusader runs game in the sixth inning. Matt Stuart gave another excellent performance, getting the win after going 4 innings with 4 strikeouts and 1 walk. Russell Kelly pitched well in 1.2 innings and Aaron Garza earned the save in 1.1 innings. Matt Stuart improves his record to 2-1 on the year.

The Pirates struck first in the top half of the fourth after a Patrick Keenan leadoff double and John Wooten walk. Junior first baseman Kyle Belski drove Keenan home with a single to right field. The Pirates would strike again in the top of the sixth with Patrick Keenan once again in the middle of the offense with a leadoff single. After a Cray Betts sacrifice bunt and a Jeff Glasgow single, senior right fielder John Wooten singled to right to plate Keenan followed by a Kyle Belski fielder’s choice to plate Glasgow.

Aaron Garza relieved Russell Kelly in the bottom half of the sixth and worked out of a bases loaded jam to hold the lead at 3-2. In the top of the seventh, with momentum drained, first year second baseman Nick Mase drew a two out walk that was followed by a Patrick Keenan home run to right field to extend the lead to 5-2. Garza would return to the mound and keep the game there for the save.

Patrick Keenan was the offensive star of game one with 3 hits in 4 at bats, 2 RBI, and 3 runs scored. Belski and Wooten each recorded one hit and one RBI.

Game two saw a different result for the Pirates as they drop the game 5-2. After giving up a run in the bottom of the first to Mary Hardin-Baylor, the Pirates answered in the top of the second when Charlie Garrett, first year short stop, hit a two out double over the right fielder’s head to plate Belski, who reached on an error, and Lowry, who reached on a walk. This was the end of the Pirate’s scoring. The Pirate’s would leave the bases loaded in the sixth and seventh but were unable to plate any runners.

Despite struggling with their control for most of the day, the pitching staff pitched well with runners on base to keep the Pirates within striking distance. Two short, well placed fly balls that fell near the left field line led to two Crusader runs in the first and third. Two missed chances at double plays in the bottom half of the fifth extended the Crusader lead to 3 with the score 5-2.

Pirate pitcher Eric Kegley receives the loss after walking 4 and striking out 3 in 2 innings. Brice Bender and Marc Brace each went two innings and gave up just one run and two hits. First year second baseman Nick Mase recorded the first hit of his college career and Patrick Keenan and Charlie Garrett each recorded a hit as well.

The Pirates will open up conference this weekend at home against Millsaps College. Game 1 will be Saturday at 2 pm. Game 2 will be Sunday at 1 pm.