SHERMAN, Texas - It was a tale of two contests on Saturday afternoon for the Southwestern University baseball team, as they rode a 16-run fourth inning to a dominant 25-7 (7) before cooling off in the nightcap at falling to the 'Roos, 12-2 (7).
In a wild first game, the Pirates took advantage of 19 base on ball from Austin College as they saw six different pitchers in the contest. Six different Pirates had three RBIs or more while five difference Pirates had a multi-hit game.
Southwestern opened the game with a seven run first inning off a RBI from Seth Sparks along with two RBI hits from Colby Schmidt, Hayden Craig, and Daniel Montgomery Jr. Austin College got five back in the second to make it a game, but a RBI double from Jason McCormack made it an 8-5 game.
Then came a fourth inning like no other as Southwestern sent 20 batters to the plate, scoring 16 runs on seven hits while taking advantage of seven walks in the inning. Montgomery notched a solo shot while sophomore Byron Dowdell II launched a three run shot. Southwestern found a majority of their RBIs on walks and hit by pitch.
Southwestern just rode the arm of Colton Hunter (W, 3-3) who just went the full seven innings to save the bullpen for the rest of the weekend as he struck out five despite allowing seven runs.
McCormack went 4-for-6 with a double, three RBI, and four runs scored while Sparks and Montgomery were each 3-for-5. Sparks drove in two including a double and three runs scored while Montgomery drove in four including a home run and two runs scored. Schmidt and Dowdell each drove in three while Ethan Hallmark was 2-for-4 with a double, three RBI, and four runs scored.
Hayden Craig was 2-for-3 with four RBI and two runs scored while junior Cole Kelly did not have an official at bat as he walked five times while driving in one and scoring three times. Every Pirate in the lineup had a RBI.
It was a completely different tune in game two. Though the Pirates jumped out to a 2-0 lead thanks to a 'Roo error and a sac fly from Dowdell, Austin scored eight in the fourth, two in the fifth, and two in teh sixth while riding the arm of Chase Almaguer to take a 12-2 win and even the series.
Will Preston (L, 2-3) took the loss despite 3.2 innings of work and four strikeouts as the bullpen struggled to contain the hot hitting 'Roo lineup. Montgomery, Hallmark, Craig, and Schmidt were all 1-for-3 with Montgomery and Hallmark each adding a double.
Southwestern moves to 13-17 overall and 6-8 in SCAC play. The all-important final game of the series, which could play a significant impact on the SCAC Championship, will be played on Sunday at 1 PM.