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Southwestern University

Craig Walks it Off as Pirates Storm Back to Stun UMHB in Extras

Pitching

Win: Jacob Frankel (2-1)
Loss: Andrew Hutchings (2-4)

Batting

Mary Hardin-Baylor
2B: Mason Schuh; Landon Dieterich
3B: none
HR: none
Southwestern
2B: Cole Kelly; Colby Schmidt; Hayden Craig
3B: Hayden Craig
HR: Colby Schmidt
full stats
Craig Walks it Off as Pirates Storm Back to Stun UMHB in Extras
Posted: Apr 17, 2018

GEORGETOWN - The Southwestern University baseball team erased a 9-0 deficit as they stormed back to defeat Mary Hardin-Baylor 10-9 (10), thanks to a walk-off RBI double in the 10th from freshman Hayden Craig on Tuesday evening at Rockwell Field.

It was a brutal start for Southwestern as they gave up two runs in the first and seven in the second to dig themselves a 9-0 hole. The Crusaders had 11 hits in the first two innings alone and chased starter Tyler Polasek as well as reliever Ruben Garcia. 

In stepped freshman Jacob Frankel, who did the most importnat job which was shut down the UMHB offense. Despite allowing eight hits in eight innings pitching, Frankel allowed no runs and proceeded to strikeout 10 batters while only surrendering one walk.

From there the Pirates began to mount their comeback, beginning with a RBI triple from Craig followed by a RBI single from sophomore Daniel Montgomery Jr. and a RBI ground out from junior Colby Schmidt to cut it down to 9-3.

In the fifth, Schmidt came to the plate with one on and smacked a home run to left to make it 9-5. Later in the inning, junior Kevin Stein cut the deficit to 9-6 with a RBI single.

As Frankel continued to deal on the mound, the Pirates continued to chip away, getting one run back in the sixth on a RBI single from senior Ethan Hallmark, and another one in the seventh as Craig scored on an error from the pitcher, suddenly making it a one run game at 9-8.

With two outs and two on in the ninth, junior Cole Kelly came through with a huge RBI single to make it a new game at nine a piece. The Pirates could not get another run home as the game moved into extras.

Frankel (W, 2-1) got out of the 10th unscathed and the Pirates got a two-out rally rolling thanks to a single from senior Riley Wayland and a walk to Stein. That brought Craig to the plate who lined a rocket over the center fielder's head, scoring Wayland and completing the epic comeback at 10-9.

Craig was 2-for-5 with a double, triple, two RBI, and two run scored as he is now on a five game hitting. Craig had the go-ahead hit in last night's upset with over Trinity with a RBI double in the 8th inning. Schmidt finished 3-for-6 with a double, a home run, and three RBI while Kelly was also 3-for-6 with a double and a RBI.

Stein was 2-for-4 with two walks while both Montgomery and freshman Seth Sparks were each 2-for-6 with Montgomery adding a RBI and two runs scored. Senior Jason McCormack added a 2-for-6 day as Southwestern pounded out 18 hits on the night.

Southwestern moves to 15-18 overall and will look to take the momentum from the past two wins into a huge SCAC weekend. The Pirates welcome in Texas Lutheran in their final SCAC series of the season, beginning on Friday at 6 PM, and need to win at least one, if not more, for a chance at the postseason. The Pirates will also need some help in other games across the conference.