March 15, 2004

Final Stats

BROWNWOOD, Texas - Hardin-Simmons' baseball team opened its quest for an American Southwest Conference title on a good note with a tripleheader road sweep of ASC West foe Howard Payne, 19-8, 14-10, 15-8, Monday at Sheppard Park in Brownwood.

The series slated for the weekend had been pushed back by wet weather in Brownwood and it forced a tripleheader to be played today. The delay did not effect the team's bats as both teams scored plenty of runs in the three games, it was HSU that found a way to score the most.

In the first game, the Cowboys broke open a 6-5 game in the top of the fifth with a 13-run inning that included 10 hits. Neither team was able to pick up the ball as the teams combined for 11 errors in the game.

The Cowboys pounded out 21 hits in the game. All but one Cowboy starter, catcher Scott Drake, had multiple hits in the game. Drake went 1-for-5 giving all the Cowboys as least one hit. Leadoff hitter Brandon Beene went 3-for-6 with three RBIs, Michael Popino was 3-for-3 with four runs and three RBIS. Michael Simpson had two hits, three runs and drove in three. Andy Harrington was 3-for-4.

Craig Foreman picked up his fourth win of the season in as many starts with five innings of three-earned run ball. He scattered nine hits.

In game time, both teams started the game with a flurry as each team plated four runs in the first inning. Justin Wilson had a three-run homer in the first and Michael Simpson went deep the next batter, making it the second time this season that combination has had back-to-back jacks.

The Cowboys got three unearned runs in the second on an Andy Harrington home run. Trailing 10-9 going into the sixth the Cowboys threw up another four spot in the sixth when they had five hits. Brian Whitworth got the win with 3.2 innings of shutout relief. He allowed just two hits.

The third game was called after 5 ½ innings due to darkness. The game had passed the mark for the game to be called official.

Simpson and Brad Coleman each had three hits. Simpson had three runs scored and four RBIs. Michael Popino was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and driven in and Justin Wilson had two hits and three runs.

Cory Summers got the win in relief. He scattered four hits, but did not allow an earned run in two innings.

For the day, Harrington was 7-for-10 with a homer, eight runs scored and five RBIs, Popino was 7-for-12 with seven runs, four doubles and seven RBIs and Simpson was 7-for-13 with nine runs, a double, triple, home run and nine RBIS.

HSU improved to 10-5 overall and 3-0 in ASC West Play. Howard Payne fell to 3-16 overall and 0-3 in conference action. HSU will host Sul Ross State in a three-game set this weekend.