April 23, 2005

Final Stats

ABILENE, Texas - Hardin-Simmons' took a pair of 2-1 games from American Southwest Conference rival Howard Payne on Saturday afternoon at Hunter Field and clinched the right to host the first round of the ASC Tournament next weekend.

Craig Johnson had a two-run walk-off single in the seventh and in the second game Josh Bishop had another solid outing and the Cowboys scratched out two runs for the win.

The first game was a pitcher's duel throughout between the Cowboys' Dalton Rucker and Doug Wren from HPU. Rucker went six innings and allowed only one run. He was relieved in the seventh by Craig Foreman who induced a double play after Rucker had walked the leadoff hitter and got out of the inning. He received the win in relief.

The Cowboys' bats were silent until the seventh, when Ryan Stepp had a one-out walk, Barry Janisse and Michael Popino had walks and designated hitter Craig Johnson hit an opposite field single to right to score Stepp and Janisse and give the Cowboys a walk-off win, its third of the season.

In the second game, the Cowboys played small ball for a run in the third. Freshman catcher Geoff Wheeler led off with a single, was moved over by a sacrifice bunt by Stepp and came around to score on a Michael Simpson single through the left side.

The Cowboys scratched another run in the sixth, when Popino led off with a single, Johnson walked and Strader had a bunt single. Bo Vaculik had a sacrifice to center to score Popino.

Bishop went eight plus innings and gave up one run on three hits and struck out five. He improved to 3-0 on the year. Foreman recorded the final out for his first save of the year.

HSU improved to 24-16 overall and 15-5 in league play. HPU closed its season at 11-27 overall and 5-16 in conference play.