April 25, 2004

Final Stats

ABILENE, Texas - Hardin-Simmons' baseball team got a strong performance from Brian Whitworth to win the first game of its showdown with Concordia-Austin on Sunday 5-1, but the Tornados came back to get the rubber game of the series and advance to the American Southwest Conference Tournament for the third straight year with a 13-4 win Sunday afternoon at Hunter Field.

Whitworth, who finished the year with a 7-2 record and a 1.68 ERA, allowed only one run while scattering seven hits in the complete-game win in game one. HSU scored five runs in the third inning for their only scores as Michael Popino and Justin Wilson had RBI singles, Brad Coleman had a sacrifice fly and Scott Drake had a two-run single in the inning.

In the nightcap, the Cot hold down the Tornado bats as C-A scored a run in the second, three more in the third and put the game away with six runs in the fifth, two in the sixth and one in the seventh. The Cowboys lone runs came on a three-run homer by Michael Simpson in the sixth and a RBI double by Michael Popino.

Josh Bishop got the loss for the Cowboys falling to 4-2 on the year. Tim Gardner had three hits including his 14th homer in the second game for Concordia, he had three RBIs.

HSU finishes its campaign at 23-14 and 14-7 in ASC West play. Concordia-Austin moved to 26-13 and 16-5 in ASC West play.