April 8, 2006

Game 1 Game 2

ABILENE, Texas - Hardin-Simmons' baseball team swept a doubleheader from conference-leading Concordia-Austin, 2-1 and 6-3, Saturday afternoon at Hunter Field.

In the first game, Dalton Rucker (4-2) was brilliant again for the Cowboys. He scattered four hits and allowed only one run, while going six and two-thirds. Josh Alcorn had a three-pitch strikeout to his only batter of the game to record a school-record tying fourth save of the season.

The Cowboys scored an unearned run in the third inning. Trevor Bunte led off with a single and was moved to third on a pair of sacrifice bunts by Taylor Lamar and Ryan Stepp. Bunte scored when the throw from first trying to cut him down at third was wide and went into left field.

HSU added another run in the fifth inning. Blake Koch led off with a single and moved to second on a Bunte sacrifice bunt. Taylor Lamar then walked and scored on a Ryan Stepp single to center.

Concordia scored a run in the sixth when Stephen Szkotak and Bill Mitchell had back-to-back singles and moved up on a sacrifice bunt. Ryen Pounds had a sacrifice fly to give the Tornados their only run of the game.

In the second game the Cowboys chased Concordia starter Ethan Morrison in the second as HSU had a four-run inning. Danny Ruth led off being hit by pitch. Michael Simpson doubled him in. James Gage singled and Lamar reached on a fielder's choice and moved to second when both runners scored on a throwing error by the shortstop.

HSU scored two more in the fourth inning. Stepp walked with two outs and scored on a Tre' Sellari double to right center. Brad Coleman knocked in Sellari with his 15th two-out RBI of the season on a single to center. Concordia added single runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings.

Brian Arnold (3-0) earned the win for the Cowboys. He worked six and two-third innings and allowed three runs (two earned). Ethan Morrison took the loss allowing four earned runs in one plus inning. Josh Alcorn worked two perfect innings for his school-record fifth save. Coleman and Simpson had two hits each for the Cowboys.

The Cowboys improved to 20-12 on the year and 11-5 in ASC West play. Concordia fell to 18-12 and 10-3 in league play. HSU plays at Southwestern on Tuesday.

--- HSU Athletics ---