March 18, 2009
On a perfect afternoon for baseball on Tuesday, the Southwestern University baseball team got red hot in the final innings to defeat Concordia-Austin 10-3 at Dell Diamond in Round Rock, Texas.
The game was locked at one going into the seventh inning and then the Pirates turned it on. First-year CF Cray Betts doubled to bring in sophomore LF Patrick Keenan and first-year 2B Nate Shipp to put the Pirates up 3-1. Concordia was able to push one across the plate and pull within one, 3-2, in the bottom of the inning on a two-out single by 3b Stephen Szkotak.
Southwestern built on its lead in the eighth scoring five. The Pirates loaded the bases immediately with a pair of walks to sophomore 1B Kyle Belski and Keenan and senior 3B Ricky Gomez being hit by a pitch. Shipp was also hit by a pitch which brought in Belski for the first run of the inning. A sacrifice fly to center field by sophomore C Nick Ashford drove in Gomez and was followed by a three-run homerun by Betts to further extend SU's lead to six, 8-2. Concordia could muster just one run in response in the bottom of the inning.
To seal the victory and leave a statement with the Tornadoes, Southwestern posted two more runs in the ninth. Gomez doubled to bring in Wooten who reached on a walk. Keenan followed with a single that brought in Gomez and gave SU the seven run lead, 10-3.
Betts led the Pirates at the plate going 3-5 with a double, homerun, five RBI's and one run on the afternoon with . Gomez and Shipp had solid perforances as well, each going 2-4 with two runs and one RBI.
First-year Chris Webber got the start for Southwestern and pitched four impressive innings, allowing just one run on one hit with three strike-outs and no walks. First-year Matt Stuart came in relief for Webber and received the win allowing seven hits and two runs while walking one and striking out one. Concordia's Riggles received the loss after six innings of work.
With the win Southwestern improves to 12-12 on the year while Concordia falls to 11-13.
Southwestern returns home on Wednesday for a night game against Cardinal-Stritch at Rockwell Family Baseball Field beginning at 7:00 pm.