GEORGETOWN, Texas — Errors proved costly for the Southwestern baseball team in a 7-4 loss to the Texas Lutheran University Bulldogs to open a three-game weekend series.
The Pirates allowed 10 hits, but three errors for three unearned runs proved to be the margin of victory for Texas Lutheran, who got solid pitching performances from starter Joe Burch and its bullpen.
Texas Lutheran struck first in the top of the second inning. Alec Sanchez led the inning off with a walk and was moved over on a sacrifice bunt by Aric Vasquez, later scoring on an error on a grounder to second.
Southwestern responded in the bottom of the inning, taking advantage of a Texas Lutheran error that put Jacob Tanner on first to lead things off. Henry Fisher followed with a single to center, and Christian Melillo followed with an RBI single through the left side, scoring Tanner. Then, after Mathew Escamilla went down swinging, Trent Raschke delivered an RBI single to left, scoring Fisher.
After both teams went scoreless in the third, Texas Lutheran tied the game in the top of the fourth inning. The Bulldogs opened the inning with consecutive hits. Strzelczyk opened with a single up the middle, followed by Sanchez doubling to left-center, putting bother runners in scoring position. After Vasquez popped out to second, Nick Gardoni hit an infield single, scoring Strzelczyk. Sanchez was thrown out trying to score on the same play.
Melillo put the Pirates back on top with his first collegiate home run, delivering a solo blast over the left-field fence.
Texas Lutheran pulled ahead in the fifth inning. After Blake Cappadona struck out swinging, Holden Philippus singled to left, and a pitch hit Randy Huerta, setting up Post's RBI-double to left field. Strzelczyk followed with an RBI on a sacrifice fly to center field.
Relief pitcher Trey Schwarz took over for Gregory Ferguson to start the sixth inning. Ferguson (1-2) pitched five complete innings, striking out three while surrendering six hits and four runs, including three earned runs.
Texas Lutheran scored two more runs in the eighth. Sanchez led off with an infield single, then stole second. Vasquez flied out to left field, then Gardoni reached on a throwing error, putting runners in the corners. Dahl laid down a bunt on a suicide squeeze with Southwestern unable to make the play at the plate. Then, Cappadona singled through the right side, scoring Gardoni.
James Vaquero delivered an RBI single for Southwestern in the eighth, scoring Adam Werchan, who replaced Ted Lobkowicz after the latter injured himself running out a double to right field.
Bryan Meissner replaced Schwarz to start the ninth and walked one batter and surrendered a single, putting runners on the corners. Then, Meissner made a throwing error on a pickoff attempt, scoring Texas Lutheran's final run.
Texas Lutheran starter Joe Burch settled down after a rough start, throwing 7.1 innings while striking out eight and surrendering four runs to pick up his third win. Strzelczyk entered the game in the eighth to pick up the save.
Southwestern drops to 8-9 with an 0-4 conference record. The Pirates and Bulldogs will conclude the series tomorrow with a doubleheader starting at 1:00 p.m.
