SHERMAN, Texas - The Southwestern University baseball team dropped a pivotal series to the Austin College 'Roos in SCAC play, falling in the rubber match 11-3 on Sunday afternoon at Baker Field.
Similar to yesterday, the Pirates took the early lead, taking a 3-0 lead after plating three runs in the second inning with two outs. Freshman Austin Smith got it rolling with a RBI single for the 1-0 lead while senior Ethan Hallmark homered to left field to move ahead by three.
Austin College took control in the bottom of the third thanks in part to a grand slam that complete swung the momentum in the 'Roos favor, moving ahead 5-3. Ausin added runs in the fourth and fifth before scoring three more in the seventh.
Southwestern loaded the bases in the eighth as they look to rally back, but had nothing to show for as they went down with nothing. The 'Roos added one more run in the eighth for the 11-3 win.
Three different pitchers took the mound for Southwestern with junior Cole Kelly (L, 0-1) saddled with the loss. Aaron Clark and Riley Wayland saw action out of the bullpen, but struggled to keep the hot hitting 'Roos in check.
Hallmark was 1-for-4 with a home run and two RBI while Smith, Kelly, and Byron Dowdell II were all 2-for-3 with Kelly and Smith each scoring a run. Southwestern had 10 hits in the contest, but could only muster three runs.
The Pirates fall to 13-18 overall and 6-9 in the SCAC with Austin College holding the tiebreaker at 6-6. With their final SCAC series with Texas Lutheran looming, Southwestern will have to win one of those and need help going forward to make the SCAC Championship later in May.
For now, the Pirates will refocus and return home tomorrow night as they welcome in top-ranked Trinity for 6 PM non-conference match-up.