A beat up Pirate baseball team dropped three close and exciting games in Sherman to Austin College this weekend.  The Pirates were within one swing of the bat in all 3 games, but were unable pull out a victory.

Austin College scored 11 runs on 9 hits and 3 Pirate errors in game one to win 11 to 8.  Walks haunted the Pirate pitching staff as four pitchers allowed 8 free passes.  Starter Brantley Freeman, recently back from injury, threw 2 innings, giving up 4 runs, only 2 were earned.  Freeman's throwing error in the bottom of the first allowed Austin College to score 2 runs while only needing 1 hit.  The Pirates answered in the top of the second when first year catcher Johnny Gavrel doubled over the left fielder's head.  After a walk to Nate Shipp, first year short stop Charlie Garrett singled Gavrel home.  The Pirates would strike again in the top of the third after John Wooten reached on a fielder's choice, then stole second.  Junior first baseman Kyle Belski drove Wooten home with a single down the left field line.  Belski continued to produce with a three run home run in the fifth to drive in designated hitter Patrick Keenan and right fielder John Wooten.  After a four run bottom of the fifth for Austin College, Southwestern continued to fight.  Two straight singles with one out drove Tyler Steed, Austin College starting pitcher, out of the game.  Senior centerfielder Todd Boone drove in the first run with a fielder's chioce.  Patrick Keenan would then deliver with a two run home run to right center field to make the score 11-8.  The Pirates would be able to must no more offense on the day and would take the loss. 

The Pirates managed 8 runs on 9 hits with Patrick Keenan, Kyle Belski, and Charlie Garrett leading the way with two hits a piece.  Belski finished the day with 4 RBI.

Game two of the double header saw a stronger pitching performance by two young Pirate pitchers.  Sophomore Chris Webber started for the Pirates and 5 runs, 3 earned, in four innings while first year reliever Bryce Bender surrendered 3 runs in four innings. 

The Pirates struck first in the second game thanks to a Johnny Gavrel home run that plated two in the top of the second.  After allowing a run in the bottom of the second, the Pirates were able to answer with a Kyle Belski single that plated Todd Boone.  Two errors in the bottom of the fourth proved costly as they allowed Austin College to score three runs to take the lead 5-3.  The Pirates would continue to battle back in the top of the sixth after Johnny Gavrel doubled off the right centerfield wall, senior secondbaseman Matt Clark drove Gavrel in with a single to right field to make the game 6-4.  A home run in the bottom of the eighth for Austin college would provide the needed insurance at 8-4 to prevent outfielder Cray Betts' ninth inning RBI triple from doing too much damage.  The Pirates would strand Betts at third and drop the game 8-5. 

Johnny Gavrel led the Pirate offensive attack with 3 hits, 2 runs, and 2 RBI. 

Sunday saw starter Alan Lowry return to significant action after being out for most of the beginning of the season.  Lowry allowed 3 runs, only 1 earned run, on 6 hits in 4 innings.  Sophomore reliever Matt Stuart was called upon in the fifth and pitched four innings giving up 3 runs on 6 hits as well. 

Austin College scratched out two runs early and held a 2-0 lead into the fourth until Junior Catcher Nick Ashford singled to left centerfield to drive home Kyle Belski.  The 2-1 score would stand until a throwing error allowed a run in the bottom of the fifth to make the score 3-1.  The Pirates would answer in the top of the sixth after a Matt Clark walk and a steal of second base, John Wooten would ground out to second to allow Clark to move to third and come home on Cray Betts' sacrifice fly to left field.  After another Austin run in the bottom of the sixth, sophomore second baseman Nate Shipp singled to lead off the top of the seventh.  A Charlie Garrett sacrifice bunt would move Shipp up to second and allow him to score on a Matt Clark double to left centerfield.  This cut the lead to 4-3.  Clark was stranded at second.  The Pirates were unable to keep Austin College off the board in the late innings and allowed the lead to be stretched to 6-3.  This lead would stand for the rest of the game.

Nate Shipp and Matt Clark each had two hits and scored one run on the day. 

The Pirates will return to action at home Tuesday with a 6 pm start against the University of Mary-Hardin Baylor.