April 3, 2004

Final Stats

ABILENE, Texas - Hardin-Simmons' baseball dropped a pair of American Southwest Conference games to crosstown-rival McMurry, 3-0, 5-4, Saturday at Walt Driggers Field on the McMurry campus.

In the first game, it was Preseason ASC Player of the Year Josh Lee that was the difference in the game. The senior from Abilene Cooper accounted for all three RBIs at the plate and threw a one-hitter to stymie the Cowboys. He had a two-run single in the first inning and a solo home run in the sixth.

Scott Drake got the only hit for the Cowboys a seeing-eye single through the right side in the sixth inning. HSU wasted a solid outing by Craig Foreman. The junior, who played his first season at McMurry, allowed just six hits and two earned runs in the complete-game win. The game was played in 1:13 minutes.

In game two, the Cowboys fell behind 2-0 after three innings on solo home runs by the Indians' Chris Manley and Craig Richardson. Hardin-Simmons responded with three runs in the fourth inning. Michael Popino and Justin Wilson had back-to-back solo shots to almost the same spot in right center to tie the game. Brad Coleman had an RBI single later in the inning, driving in Michael Simpson from second base.

Andy Harrington led off the fifth inning with a home run to give the Cowboys a 4-2 lead. McMurry tied the game amid controversy in the bottom of the inning. Albert Carrizales reached on an a two-base error by Coleman. Josh Lee was intentionally walked. Seth Ardoin then hit a run-scoring single to left and moved to second on the throw.

With one out and runners on second and third, Greg Erickson flied out to centerfielder Michael Simpson. His throw to the plate was cut off by Andy Harrington and the Cowboys got Ardoin trying to go to third base. The home plate umpire Russell Hall initially ruled that the out occurred before Lee crossed home plate, negating the run.

McMurry head coach Lee Driggers came out of the dugout to argue and Hall overturned his initial call and declared the run good, giving Erickson a sacrifice-fly RBI and tying the game at 4-4.

In the sixth, McMurry took the lead when Jason Gotcher singled to left. Richardson had a sac bunt and Gotcher moved to third on a D.J. Sigala ground out. Then with two outs Manley hit a ball down the first base line that was ruled fair despite landing in foul territory just over the first base bag. Gotcher scored and the Indians closed out the game with Carrizales coming on to get the save.

HSU will try to close out the series with a win on Sunday at 2 p.m. in a single-game. Justin Wilson will get the start for the Cowboys.

Both teams saw their record go to 16-10 overall and 8-3 in ASC West play.