The grills were fired up and so were the Pirates' bats as they faced the University of Dallas on Saturday afternoon for Georgetown Youth Baseball Association Day sponsored by Carl's Jr. The Pirates dropped game one 4-3 in 11 innings but blasted the Crusaders 14-3 in game two.
A base hit by Lance Gottardy started the second and was followed by a walk to Patrick Keenan. Gregory Thumm poked a ball to the vacant shortstop location for an RBI single, putting the Pirates up 2-0 through two innings.
UD had their chances early, but Southwestern always seemed to have the defensive answer including a bullet thrown by Thumm in left field who gunned down a Crusader attempting to advance to third. UD was able to bring in two runners in the third, however, tying it up once again 2-2.
Johnny Gavrel wouldn't let the tie last long as he sent the ball over the left field fence to open up the bottom of the third, putting SU back on top 3-2.
UD's Kerin hit a shot to third base that was knocked down and fielded by Sterling, but not in time to make a play on Farris heading for home, allowing the Crusaders to score the tying run 3-3 in the top of the sixth.
As the game headed into extra innings UD got a runner to third with two outs in the top of the eighth and tried to steal the game from Southwestern with a suicide squeeze, but the runner was out at home when the batter failed to put the ball in play, extending the game further.
A ground-rule double started off the top of the ninth inning for the Crusaders. Kerin laid down a bunt toward first base and Martin made a diving stop and jumped to his feet to deliver a perfect throw to third, nailing the lead runner and keeping the game tied.
Neither team was able to score until Dallas posted one in the top of the 11th. With a runner at first and two outs Costello hit a deep fly ball to centerfield that was chased down by Cray Betts who caught the ball but it popped out of his glove when he went to show he made the catch and allowed the winning run to cross the plate.
Chris Churchwell garnered the loss after coming in relief for Matt Stuart. Churchwell allowed one run on six hits with no walks and five strikeouts. Stuart allowed eight hits and three runs in six innings of work to start the game.
With game two underway the Pirates wasted no time getting on the board, scoring two runs in the first on back to back doubles by Martin and Gavrel. Thumm added an RBI single in the second after a leadoff double by Zach Lynch and after a run was walked in Southwestern led by four, 4-0, after two innings.
A one-run third was followed by a five run fourth, highlighted by a two-run homerun by Gavrel, that put SU up 10-0.
Four runs in the fifth gave the Pirates more than enough cushion as they closed out the game for the 14-3 win.
Alan Lowry earned the game two, complete game win to improve to 2-1 on the season. He allowed nine hits and three runs while walking two and striking out five.
Offensively, the Pirates were led by Garrett and Thumm who were both 4-7 from the plate with two runs scored. Thumm pushed three runs across while Garrett had one RBI. Gavrel had a 3-8 afternoon including two homeruns and one double. Zach Lynch was strong in game two for SU, going 2-2 from the plate with two RBI's and two runs scored.
Southwestern remains at home to face Schreiner on March 22nd for a double-header beginning at 2:00 pm.