March 7, 2005

Final Stats

ABILENE, Texas - Hardin-Simmons' baseball team snapped its three game losing streak with an 8-0 win over North Park, Monday afternoon in the first game of the Abilene Spring Break Festival.

The Cowboys jumped on the board with three runs after there were two outs in the inning. Justin Wilson walked and Michael Popino drove him in with his second home run of the season. Michael Simpson then followed with a double to right center and scored on an Elliot Strader double to left center.

In the fourth, Simpson led off with a single to center and Strader followed with a single to left. Brad Coleman moved them both over with a bunt. Catcher Geoff Wheeler then singled to left to score Simpson. In the fifth, Justin Wilson hammered his sixth home run of the year.

HSU added two more runs in the sixth when Simpson led off with a single and scored on a Brad Coleman double. Coleman came in to score on two wild pitches.

The run support was more than enough for sophomore righthander Brian Arnold. He allowed only two hits in seven innings of work. He induced 12 ground ball outs and struck out three to move to 1-0 on the season. Matt Hinds and Patrick Brandt each worked a scoreless inning of relief.

Simpson was 4-for-4 on the day with four runs scored. Wilson, Strader, Brad Coleman and Strader all had two hits in the Cowboys 16-hit attack.

Hardin-Simmons is now 6-5 on the year and North Park fell to 0-2. HSU will play Friends University on Tuesday at noon.