April 13, 2007

Final Stats

ABILENE, Texas - Taylor Lamar had a walkoff single as Hardin-Simmons' baseball team won its seventh straight American Southwest Conference game, 2-1, over Howard Payne Friday night in the opener of its ASC series at Hunter Field.

Michael Simpson led off the ninth for the Cowboys with a single up the middle, moved to second on a Ryan Stepp sacrifice bunt and to third on a Danny Ruth groundout to the right side. Lamar hit the first pitch he saw back up the middle as Simpson trotted home with the winning run.

Justin Davies and Lance Johnson locked up in a pitcher's duel. Davies (5-3) was the hard-luck loser for Howard Payne as he scattered eight hits in eight and two-third innings of work, while walking just one and striking out five. He allowed only one earned run.

Johnson had his best game as a Cowboy as he also went eight and two-third innings and scattered nine hits, while walking one and striking out eight. He left the game with two outs in the top of the ninth and with two runners on. Josh Alcorn (3-3) got the final out of the ninth and earned the win as the Cowboys pushed across the winning run.

Howard Payne scored its only run in the second inning, when Blake Shaffer doubled to left and moved to third on a wild pitch. Cale Thompson hit a flare to left that found a hole and Shaffer scored.

HSU picked up its first run in the sixth inning when Trevor Bunte walked and moved to second on a Taylor Gibbs sacrifice bunt. He scored when Brad Coleman hit a ball to third, but Ricky Gomez' throw got away at first base allowing Bunte to score.

The Cowboys are now 19-15 overall and 8-7 in ASC West action. Howard Payne fell to 13-20 overall and 7-9 in league action. The teams play a 1 p.m. doubleheader on senior day, Saturday at Hunter Field.