March 12, 2003

Box Score

ABILENE, Texas - Chuy Rodriguez had a game-winning double as the Hardin-Simmons baseball team came from behind to beat Montclair State, 9-8, Wednesday evening in the final game of the Abilene Baseball Classic.

Trailing 8-5 going into the final frame, the Cowboys started the rally with a walk by freshman Josh Anderlohr, Elliot Strader singled up the middle. Andy Harrington walked to load the bases. Brady Coke then pinch hit and drove in two runs with a single to right. Jeff Wisner pinch ran for Coke and scored on a single by Brandon Beene to tie the game at 8-8. Rodriguez followed with a double to the right center gap that drove in Beene for the game winner.

The Cowboys (7-6) have now won five of six games. All five of the wins have been by one run.

HSU trailed 3-0 going to the bottom of the third, when the Cowboys scored five runs to take a 5-3 lead. Beene singled to start the inning and Rodriguez homered to left. That was followed by a John Schlaffer homer, his fourth of the season. Ryan Devere then hit a double and Strader knocked him in with a single. Harrington singled to move Devere to third and Seth Gandy knocked him in with a single to the hole at short.

Kyle Tabor earned the win in relief for the Cowboys. Beene and Strader each had three hits and Rodriguez had a pair of hits and three RBIs.

HSU will return to action Friday when it hosts Howard Payne at 2 p.m. That game has been moved from a regularly-scheduled 7 p.m. game.