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Southwestern University

Wind Gusts, Bats Ignite as Pirates Take Two

Wind Gusts, Bats Ignite as Pirates Take Two
Posted: Mar 09, 2011

GEORGETOWN, Texas- It took extra innings in game one but a blowout in game two as Southwestern defeated Robert Morris (Chi.) 4-3 and 10-2 on Wednesday afternoon. The wins improve SU to 7-8 on the season.

A pair of singles to left field by Johnny Gavrel and Cray Betts started off the bottom of the second and Patrick Keenan drew a walk to load the bases with no outs. RMU's third baseman elected to go for the double play on Gregory Thumm's grounder with one out, but Thumm beat the throw to first allowing Gavrel to cross the plate for the first run of the game.

Eric Kegley walked two batters in the top of the fourth with one out, giving the Eagles hopes of tying the ball game, but a perfectly executed 6-4-3 double play with a great scoop by first baseman Brett Martin dashed RMU's hopes of pushing one across the plate.

Aaron Garza got himself in a jam in the top of the fifth, walking the bases loaded with two outs. Dunscomb followed with a blooper to right field, driving in two runs to give the Eagles a 2-1 lead through four and a half innings.

Robert Morris scored one more in the sixth before the Pirates tied the game in the bottom half of the inning with a two out triple to left center by Lance Gottardy, driving in pinch hitter Nick Ashford and Betts. Southwestern reliever Jason Stading got two quick outs to start the seventh but back to back singles put the winning run in scoring position. Martin made a diving stop at first base to keep the run from scoring and give Southwestern the chance for the win.

SU was unable to capitalize on two hit batters and regulation ended with the score tied 3-3.

Charlie Garrett made two heads up plays defensively in the eighth to keep the game tied and kept the door open for the Pirates. Betts started things off by putting the ball in play and forcing a tough throw by hustling down the line and reached on an error by the shortstop. He was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Patrick Keenan and reached third on a grounder to second base by Gottardy. Zac Cleveland took care of the rest. With a full count Cleveland hit a grounder between short and third that was knocked down by the shortstop, but he was unable to make a play as Cleveland reached first safely and Betts crossed the plate for the game winner.
 
Nick Cox earned his first win of the season with the 4-3 victory to move to 1-1 on the year.
 
Southwestern wasted no time scoring in game two when Martin drove in two runs on a single to left field and then hustled to third on an errant throw by the Eagles' third baseman and scored on a wild pitch giving the Pirates a 3-0 lead after one.

RMU pulled within two runs, 3-1, after two poor throws by Southwestern allowed the run to cross the plate.

Three straight walks loaded the bases for the Pirates in the bottom of the inning with only one out and starting pitcher Vasquez walked in another run. Garrett drove in a run with a single to left field and a wild pitch scored another. Shipp added a two-RBI single to right field to put Southwestern up by seven, 8-1, with four innings to play.

The first pitch of the fourth inning was a good one for Martin as he sent it flying off the right field fence, just in fair territory for a lead-off triple that sparked a two-run fourth that put the Pirates up by nine, 10-1 after four innings.

The Eagles tried to muster a comeback,  but could only manage one run in the top of the seventh as Southwestern recorded the 10-2 victory.

Chris Webber also gets his first win of the year to move to 1-1 on the mound after throwing two innings, allowing no runs or hits.  

Garrett led at the plate going 3-6 with one RBI and two runs scored for the Pirates while Gottardy had a team high three RBI's on the afternoon.

Southwestern returns to conference action on Saturday, beginning a three game series at Hendrix at 1pm.