April 5, 2007

Final Stats

AUSTIN, Texas - Hardin-Simmons' baseball team ran its winning streak to four games with an exciting 8-6 win over Concordia-Austin in American Southwest Conference action, Friday night at Keller-Fasholz Field.

The Cowboys jumped to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first on a solo home run by Blake Koch and then a two-run home run by Michael Simpson.

It stayed 3-0 in a pitcher's duel until the bottom of the fourth when Concordia-Austin struck for four runs, including a pair on bases loaded walks. James Sweatman came on in relief and was great for the Cowboys. He went four and two-third innings and allowed only one earned run to earn the win and move his record to 2-0.

It was in the top of the eighth inning when the Cowboys made their dramatic rally. Bill Cox came on in relief of Jonathan Miller, who had cruised for the Tornados since the first. Ryan Stepp singled to lead off the inning and after a foul out, Stepp was picked off of first base but fell down during the run down and was called safe, after the umpire ruled there was no tag.

Taylor Lamar then hit a liner to centerfield and Ryen Pounds misplayed it into a two-base error to put runners on second and third. James Gage was hit by a pitch to load the bases and then Wayne Pimpton struck out and Taylor Gibbs walked to force in a run and tie the game at 4-4.

Koch then came up and belted a grand slam over the left field wall for his second home run of the night.

Josh Alcorn came in with the bases loaded in the eighth and worked out of the jam and sent the Tornados down in the ninth for his fourth save of the season.

HSU is now 16-14 on the year and 5-7 in ASC West action. Concordia-Austin fell to 18-13 overall and 8-5 in league play. The teams play a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Friday and the games can be heard on KSLI 1280-AM.