FORT WORTH, Texas – The men on the mound for Southwestern University (0-1) and Texas Wesleyan (1-0) put on a pitching clinic this Sunday at LaGrave Field.  The stout pitching and defensive efforts by both teams yielded only one run between them.  Unfortunately for the Pirates, Wesleyan was the team to score that run to give them the victory. 

The Rams starting pitcher Derek Vaughn got off to a fast start in the pitcher's duel by fanning the first three Southwestern batters he faced.  Matt Stuart, the starting pitcher for the Pirates, wasn't nearly as fortunate giving up the game's only run in the first inning.  Texas Wesleyan got started with a single from Taylor Jockers.  Jockers advanced to third base on an errant pick off throw.  The Pirates retired the next batter on a ground out to third while holding the runner.  Justin Barnes scored Jockers on a RBI ground out to first to give the Rams the 1-0 lead.  The Rams threatened to score more runs with singles from Jordan Fuller and Hunter Robinson and a walk drawn by Alex Padilla, loading the bases.  Stuart was able to get himself out of the jam by getting Joseph Lassiter to pop out to first base for the inning's third out.

After the first inning, SU pitchers Matt Stuart and Max Smith, partnered with a good showing by the Pirates' defense, shutout the Rams the rest of the way.  The Rams were equal to the task, getting six shutout innings from Vaughn, two more from Blake Ballard, and one from Nolan Barbee. 

The Pirates threatened to score in the top of the ninth inning despite Nolan Barbee retiring the first two SU batters.  Jeff Glasgow gave the Bucs some hope, getting to first base with a single.  Speedy Ryan Doane came in as a pinch runner for Glasgow and stole second base, advancing to third on an error.  Cray Betts stepped up to the plate with the tying run on third base.  Barbee got Betts to strike out swinging to end the game and earn himself the save.

Southwestern faces their next challenge at Concordia (TX) February 3^rd at 6:00pm.  The Pirates then return home to the friendly confines of Rockwall Field on the SU campus to finish out the series against Concordia (TX) with a double header on February 4^th at 1:00 and 4:00pm.