ALPINE, Texas – A valiant comeback effort fell short for the Southwestern University Pirates' baseball team, who lost 10-9 in extra innings to the Sul Ross State Lobos, splitting the first two games in a three-game, three-day series.
Trailing 9-5 heading into the top of the ninth inning, the Pirates put together four runs with two outs as the Lobos' pitching fell apart, giving up a walk with bases loaded followed by a balk, a wild pitch, and an infield RBI-single from Hayden Craig to tie the game.
Southwestern took an early 3-1 lead through two innings, scoring on a fielder's choice and Ryan Baranow RBI-single to right center in the first inning and Daniel Montg RBI-double to left center in the second.
Sul Ross State put together a four-run inning in the third off three hits, taking advantage of a throwing error to take a 5-3 lead. They added another two runs in the fourth inning off one hit with another Pirate error.
The Pirates closed the gap with a run each in the fifth and sixth inning but the Lobos responded with a run in the bottom of the sixth and seventh, setting up the Pirates' four-run ninth.
The Lobos opened the 10th inning with a leadoff double from Jared Lorenz, who was moved over by a sacrifice bunt. The Pirates then walked the next two batters before Daniel Rojo ended the game with a walk-off sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Lorenz.
Hayden Craig was 3-for-5 with a RBI, walk, and two runs scored from the leadoff spot. Chase Thinger was 1-for-4 with two runs scored and a RBI and walk. The Pirates hit 14-for-43 as a team, leaving 11 stranded.
Southwestern went through four pitchers with starter Aaron Clark going 2.1 innings, giving up five runs, four of which were earned, and three strikeouts. Benjamin Ludwig pitched 4.1 innings, giving up four runs. Ruben Garcia pitched 1.1 innings with two walks and no runs given up. Machi Horne pitched the final 1.2 innings, picking up the loss with three walks, two hits, and an earned run.
The Pirates and Lobos will conclude their three-game series tomorrow at noon.