March 20, 2004

Final Stats

ABILENE, Texas - Hardin-Simmons' baseball team won its sixth straight game and remained perfect in American Southwest Conference West Division action with a 8-5, 9-7 doubleheader sweep over Sul Ross State, Saturday afternoon at Hunter Field.

The Cowboys trailed 1-0 going into the fourth inning of the first game, before Michael Simpson hit his fourth home run of the week to tie the game. HSU got two runs in the fifth when Andy Harrington walked, moved to second on a Michael Popino sacrifice bunt and scored on a Justin Wilson single to center. Wilson advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored when Brad Coleman singled and advanced on an error.

HSU tacked on five more runs in the sixth when Barry Janisse walked and scored on a Harrington home run to left. Popino followed with a single to right and Craig Johnson hit a pinch-hit moon shot home run to right field. Simpson followed by striking out, but reached on a wild pitch. He moved up to third on a wild pitch and a balk. Brandon Beene drove him in with a sacrifice fly to left.

SRSU scored four runs in the final inning closing the gap to 8-5. Ryan Laverell had a three-run shot in the inning for the Lobos.

Janisse and Coleman had two hits each and Johnson and Harrington had two RBIs each. Justin Wilson threw a complete-game and allowed just three hits until the final inning. He improved to 2-1 on the year and Jacob Hernandez took the loss for Sul Ross State.

In game two, the Cowboys got on the board with five runs in the bottom of the first. Scott Drake led off with a single and moved to third when Janisse reached on a an error. Popino doubled to left center to score drake. Janisse and Harrington each scored on wild pitches. Michael Simpson then was hit with a pitch, stole second and third and after Craig Johnson had walked, Simpson scored on a Brad Coleman single. Tim Donnelly added an RBI single.

Sul Ross battled back to take the lead 7-6 with four runs in the third and two in the sixth. HSU scored a run in the third when Donnelly knocked in Wilson with a single and went ahead to stay in the fourth with two runs. Harrington led off the fourth with a single and moved to third when a pickoff attempt was thrown away. Popino drove him in. Coleman's RBI ground out scored Wilson who had reached on a fielder's choice. Simpson added an RBI double in the sixth.

Brian Whitworth recorded his fourth win of the week out of the bullpen with three and a third innings of two-hit scoreless relief. Popino led the offense with three hits.

HSU improved to 13-5 overall and to 6-0 in ASC West. Sul Ross fell to 3-19 and 0-6 in ASC play. HSU will play Lubbock Christian in a doubleheader on Tuesday.