SAN ANTONIO — Southwestern baseball suffered its second 10-run rule loss in as many days, falling 19-3 to the nationally-ranked Trinity University Tigers. With the loss, the Pirates were swept in their four-game, non-conference series.
The Pirates got off to a quick start, opening the game with a lead-off infield single from Hayden Craig, followed by back-to-back walks drawn by Lance Kruse and Daniel Montgomery Jr. to load the bases. Cleanup hitter Preston Witt capitalized with a two-RBI single through the left side, scoring Kruse and Craig.
A wild pitch moved Witt and Montgomery to second and third. Jacob Tanner struck out swinging and was thrown out at first on the dropped pitch, but Montgomery scored on the throw. Unfortunately, all of the Pirates' damage was confined to that first inning.
Trinity starting pitcher Joseph Chavana settled in and pitched four solid innings, surrendering all three runs in that first inning and striking out four while giving up four hits to pick up the win. Samuel Conte took over to start the fifth and pitched three shutout innings, giving up one hit, walking one, and striking out two to earn his first save of the season.
Southwestern starting pitcher Bryan Meissner surrendered just one run through the first two innings, then Trinity got to him in the third, scoring seven earned runs, with the last three runs reaching on Meissner and scoring on a Brian Schaub three-RBI double off relief pitcher Skyler White. The Tigers followed that with another big inning in the fourth, scoring nine off seven hits, punctuated by a Tyler Pettit grand slam.
The Tigers added two more in the bottom of the sixth, hitting an RBI single and double to right field.
Southwestern's offense recorded five hits, four walks, and six strikeouts with six stranded on base. Trinity had 19 hits, five walks, and six strikeouts with 10 left stranded on base. Craig led the Pirates with a 2-for-4 performance at the plate, scoring one run. Kruse, Montgomery, and Witt were each 1-for-3 with Witt recording the two RBIs.
The Pirates will look to bounce back with a quick turnaround, hosting Texas-Dallas on Tuesday, March 2 at 6:00 p.m. Southwestern has a three-game series against Texas Lutheran next weekend, playing a single game on the road Friday and a doubleheader at home on Saturday.
For more SU Pirate photos, please see Carlos Barron Photography