The Southwestern baseball team swept this afternoon's doubleheader with the Schneider Mountaineers at Rockwell field, winning each game in dramatic fashion.
Southwestern took the first game 5-4 on Johnny Gavrel's (pictured) walk-off double to left with one out in the seventh. Gavrel's blast easily cleared the head of Scheiner left fielder Brad Thomas scoring Zac Cleveland from second standing up. It was a fitting ending to a great game for Gavrel. The Bucs catcher went 3-4 with two RBI.
Designated hitter Lance Gottardy and Cleveland also had two hits each. Second baseman Chris Lowry scored two runs and drove in another.
Freshman pitcher Tyler Poi earned his first win with the Pirates, pitching a scoreless seventh to set the Bucs up for the victory in the bottom half of the inning. Jason Stading started the game for Southwestern and threw three strong innings allowing only one run and one hit. He was relieved by freshman Max Smith who threw three innings allowing four hits and three runs.
In the nightcap the Pirates used a gutsy sixth inning rally to erase a three run defecit and sweep the doubleheader.
The game started out as a low scoring pitcher's duel with only one run scored through the first three innings. In the fourth the Pirates took a 3-0 lead on Cray Betts' RBI single that scored Lance Gottardy and Greg Thumm. However, the Mountaineers responded with two in the fifth and five in the sixth to snatch the lead in what appeared to be disheartening fashion.
The Bucs were not to be denied on this night however, rallying for four runs of their own in the bottom of the sixth to secure the sweep. Cray Betts led off with a single. After an out, Zac Cleveland singled advancing Betts to second. Brett Martin followed with a single of his own scoring Betts. Martin and Cleveland then advanced to second and third respectively when reliever Lonnie Garcia bounced his first pitch to the backstop. Johnny Gavrel's single to left scored both Martin and Cleveland. Gregg Thumm kept the hit parade going with a single through the right side advancing Gavrel to third. The Pirates first baseman gave them the lead for good when he scored on another wild pitch from Garcia.
Offensively it was a team effort as seven players had hits, five earned RBI's, and seven scored at least one run. Lance Gottardy led the way with three hits and a crucial walk in the sixth inning rally that allowed Gavrel to score. Gavrel and Betts each had two RBI while Brett Martin added two runs scored.
On the mound reliever Russell Kelly got his first win of the season for his two innings of stellar relief. Kelly came into the game in the sixth with four runs already in and Mountaineers on first and third. After allowing a single to the first batter he faced Kelly got Pete Trevino to ground into a crucial 5-4-3 double play to stop the bleeding and ended the inning by getting Jesse Paredes to ground out to first. In the top of the seventh he retired the side in order to finish off the win for himself and the Pirates.
Today's sweep boosted the Pirates record over .500 to 13-12. They will take the field again this weekend for a three game series with conference foe Austin College. The first game begins at 1:00 PM on Saturday afternoon.