BELTON, Texas – The Pirates were defeated in consecutive 3-1 games on Saturday despite strong pitching performances from Chris Webber in game 1, and Colton Mikulencak and Max Smith in game 2.  The solid Southwestern defense allowed only seven hits in each game.  The Crusaders' received some timely hitting along with good pitching to boost them past the 'Bucs. 

In the first game of the doubleheader, both defenses kept each other scoreless through the first three innings.  In the top of the 4^th, the Southwestern bats started making some noise.  Jeff Glasgow connected on a two out single, followed by Cray Betts singling to move Glasgow over to second.  Then, Lance Gottardy drew a walk to load the bases for the Pirates.  Zachary Lynch took a called third strike, but the pitch got past Crusader catcher Seth Mogavero.  Mogavero was able to recover the ball and make the force out at home to get the final out and dodge the Pirate scoring threat.

UMHB scored one run a piece on two hits in each of the 4^th, 5^th, and 6^th innings giving them the 3-0 lead.

Southwestern put the pressure on again in the seventh and final inning of game one.  Betts led off the inning with a double.  After Gottardy grounded out to the shortstop, Lynch singled to left field, scoring Betts.  Lynch advanced to second base on Ross Meyer's ground out to the third baseman.  The Crusaders got Brett Ebers to ground out to second giving them the 3-1 win.

The Pirates were led by Cray Betts who went 3-3 with a double and scored in the first game of the double header.  Chris Webber pitched a complete game and scattered three runs on seven hits over the six innings.

Colton Mikulencak got the start for the Pirates against the Crusaders' Taylor Burrow in game two.  Mikulencak did an admirable job on the mound giving up five hits and allowing only one earned run (three runs total) in 4 and 1/3 innings of work.  However, Burrow stymied the 'Bucs offense, throwing a no-hitter en route to the 3-1 victory.

Southwestern did manage to score a run in the third inning.  Ross Meyer reached first on an error by Crusader third baseman Josh Fredrick.  Meyer took second on a Colby Dutton sacrifice.  Leadoff hitter Charlie Garrett drew a walk, giving SU two men on base.  With Betts at the plate, both Meyer and Garrett advanced a base on a pitch that got past the UMHB catcher Mogavero.  Later in the at-bat, Betts ended up reaching on another error by third baseman Fredrick.  The error also allowed Meyer to score safely for the Pirates lone run of the game.

The Pirates' record goes to (0-7) and UMHB advances to (3-1) on the season following the weekend games.

The Pirates next see action against Schreiner this Tuesday, February 14^th at 2:00pm and 5:00pm at Rockwall Field on the Southwestern campus in Georgetown, Texas.