ALPINE, Texas — The Southwestern University Pirates baseball team got a complete game, 16-strikeout performance from starting pitcher Austin Smith to defeat the Sul Ross State Lobos 7-3 in the Pirates' season opener.
Southwestern scored the first run of the game, with Hayden Craig drawing a leadoff walk in the top of the first and later scoring on a Kevin Stein RBI single.
Smith took the pitcher's mound like a man possessed for the Pirates, striking out the first three batters he faced and six of the first seven Lobos' hitters. The pitcher from Cedar Park, Texas also struck out the side in the bottom of the fourth.
In all, the Pirates' defense put together four three-and-out innings. Smith pitched all nine innings, giving up five hits and a three-run sixth inning while walking only two to pick up the first victory of the season and the fifth of his career.
Offensively, the Pirates got a strong performance from DH Kevin Stein, who hit 2-for-3 with a double, three RBI and a run scored batting in the third slot. Colby Schmidt was 2-for-2 with two walks and two RBI while Craig was 1-for-2 with a walk and three runs scored from the leadoff spot.
The Pirates will continue their weekend series against Sul Ross State with a 3:00 p.m. game on Saturday and a noon game on Sunday.