GEORGETOWN, Texas - The Pirate baseball team was unable to find a rhythm Tuesday night in a home game as they fell to the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor 7-0 in non-conference action.

After a scoreless first inning UMHB started things off strong in the top of the second, getting runners on first and second with one out on an infield single and two walks. Swindell’s dribbler to sophomore Nate Shipp at second base allowed Fredrick to score the first run of the game. Flynn’s check swing popped out to first baseman junior Kyle Belski and the Pirates got out of the inning down just one, 1-0.

The Crusaders added two more runs in the top of the third to push their lead to three, 3-0.
Southwestern threatened in the bottom half of the inning when first-year Charlie Garrett’s one out single up the middle landed him on first base and Matt Clark’s well executed hit and run advanced Garrett to third. With two outs senior John Wooten had a solid hit that unfortunately was right at the UMHB centerfielder to end the Pirate threat.

With a Crusader pitching change SU looked to continue the momentum into their half of the fourth as Belski started things off with a walk. The Pirates couldn’t capitalize on the early baserunner, however, as the next two batters popped out to the outfield. Junior Chris Lowry drew a walk to keep the inning alive but Shipp was unable to get a piece of the ball as he struck out to end the inning.

An error on a pickoff play with put a runner on third base once again for the Crusaders in the fifth with two outs. The Pirates put three-hole hitter Villegas on base with an intentional walk and the strategy worked as sophomore Russell Kelly sat Fredrick down with three straight strikes to end the threat.

UMHB extended their lead in the sixth starting with a pair of base hits between short and third and after a foul fly to Belski at first notched the first out of the inning sophomore Josh Wolfe loaded the bases with a walk to Swindell. The Cru continued to score and leave the bases loaded until Southwestern was able to secure the final out of the inning when sophomore Aaron Garza struck Fredrick out. After all was said and done the Crusaders had pushed their lead to six, 6-0.

The Pirates attempted a rally in the seventh when Shipp singled to left center, but he was caught stealing and Nick Mace struck out ending the promising start.

Lance Gottardy drew a walk to start the bottom of the eighth, but Wooten’s hard hit down the first base line was snagged by Lynn who touched the bag and threw to second in time to get pinch runner first-year Ross Meyer for the double play. Belski tried to get things rolling with a two-out double but SU was unable to bring him around, ending the inning still down six.

UMHB added one more in the top of the ninth and closed out the Pirate lineup in the bottom of the inning, handing SU the 7-0 loss.

The Pirate pitching staff walked eight while striking out seven in the game allowing seven runs, six earned.

Shipp, Garrett, Belski and Matt Clark all recorded one hit for Southwestern while Villegas led for UMHB with two hits on the evening.

The Pirates fall to 3-13 on the season while Mary Hardin-Baylor improves to 7-4 on the year.

Southwestern returns to SCAC conference action with a three game home series against rival Trinity starting on Saturday afternoon at 1:00 pm.