GEORGETOWN, Texas — Southwestern baseball sent several balls towards the warning track but were stopped short with each one, producing only two hits in a 2-1 loss to the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Crusaders. 

Southwestern starting pitcher Aaron Clark and Mary Hardin-Baylor's Alex Palczewski squared off in a classic pitcher's duel, throwing scoreless games until the bottom of the sixth inning. 

Clark received plenty of help from his defense, which turned double plays in the first, second, and sixth innings. Palczewski was solid through five innings for Mary Hardin-Baylor, giving up just one hit and walk through five innings with two strikeouts.

Anthony Tovar took the mound for the Crusaders to stop the bottom of the sixth and immediately walked Landon Durdin. Chase Thinger laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Durdin over and reached on an error, putting two for the Pirates. Ted Lobkowicz followed with a bunch for a single, loading the bases with no outs. 

The Pirates failed to fully capitalize on the opportunity, getting two quick outs on a fly-out and strike-out before Bryce Debbs drew a walk to score Durdin and give Southwestern a 1-0 lead. 

Mary Hardin-Baylor finally got to Clark in the top of the eighth, opening the inning with a double to right and an infield single to put runners in the corners. Kaden Deberardinis scored from third on a wild pitch, and Dawson Shibley eventually scored on a Hunter McQuary sacrifice fly to right field to give the Crusaders the lead. 

Southwestern put itself in position for a walk-off in the ninth, drawing back-to-back walks by Matthew Escamilla and Bryce Debbs to open the inning, but Southwestern's best chance fell short as Daniel Montgomery Jr.'s drive to deep left with one out fell short at the warning track and into the outfielder's glove. Lance Kruse grounded out to first to end the game. 

With the loss, Southwestern drops to 15-15 this season. The Pirates will host Austin College for a three-game series this weekend.