GEORGETOWN, Texas – The Southwestern baseball team dropped the series opener to No. 18 Concordia Texas, 5-3, in 10 innings on Friday night at Rockwell Field.
The Tornados (3-4) capitalized on a throwing error in the final frame, which extended their at-bat long enough for Colton Poindexter to hit a three-run homer.
The Pirates (2-9) managed to pick up a run in the bottom of the panel, but were unable to push any others across before the game ended.
Both teams were limited on offense, as each squad registered six hits apiece.
Southwestern was led by Will Cates and Clayton Sparks, both of who collected a pair of knocks. Cates also had the Pirates' lone extra-base hit, a double in the 10th.
Meanwhile, Race Mellman was 2-for-4 for Concordia.
Justin Traxler (1-1) picked up the win in relief after tossing four innings of relief. The right-handed gave up a run on two hits and struck out seven. Tornados starting pitcher Josh Smith fanned 10 in six innings of work.
Joe McCormack (0-1) was saddled with the loss, as all three runs he allowed were unearned in the final stanza. McCormack, who threw the final four innings, gave up three hits, walked one and struck out one. Southwestern starter Jacob Kendra last six innings and yielded two runs on three hits.
The Pirates took an early lead in the second, as Austyn Laird hit a sacrifice fly to center field that pushed Ethan Hallmark across the plate.
Concordia answered in its next at-bat with a sac fly to pull even.
The Tornados then took a 2-1 lead in the sixth after Mellman tallied an RBI single to drive in Michael Evan.
Southwestern responded in the bottom of the frame to tie the contest.
Colby Schmidt reached on an error and later scored on Clayton Sparks' infield single.
Both teams went silent until the 10th.
With one out in the top of the panel, Wilkes Swaim laid down a bunt that was fielded by Laird, but his throw was too high. Swaim, who moved up to second base on the error, was followed by Bertsch's base on balls. After an infield fly was called off the bat of Evan, Poindexter hit the go-ahead three-run shot to give CTX the lead.
The Pirates attempted a comeback in the bottom of the 10th, but fell short.
Ethan Widoff struck out, but a wild pitch allowed him to reach base to lead off the inning. After a pop out, Cates lined a double down the left-field line that sent Widoff to third. Ben Little then grounded a ball to the right side that scored Widoff. However, the game concluded as Traxler struck out Schmidt.
The two teams will play a doubleheader Saturday at Tornado Field in Austin. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
– SOUTHWESTERN –