May 7, 2005

Final Stats

MARSHALL, Texas - Hardin-Simmons fought its way through the loser's bracket with two wins on Saturday and will advance to the American Southwest Conference Final against Texas Lutheran at noon on Sunday. The Cowboys defeated Concordia-Austin 11-6 and won the nightcap 3-0 over East Texas Baptist.

The Cowboys received two outstanding pitching performances on the day from starters Josh Bishop and Dalton Rucker. Bishop went eight innings and allowed only one earned run in the first game as the offense exploded for 19 hits, four of which went for home runs.

In the second game it was almost all Rucker and Sean Struwe the East Texas Baptist lefthander. Both threw complete-games as Rucker allowed only five hits and struck out eight. Struwe scattered 11 hits, but gave up a three-run home run to Cowboy catcher Scott Drake in the second inning. It was the first home run of the season for Drake.

"I just got a pitch around belt high and turned on it," said Drake. "It was a good pitch to hit and it felt good to come through in a big situation. This team doesn't like to do it the easy way, but we will battle for that ring tomorrow."

The Tigers came into the game hitting .366 on the year and had not been shut out this year before today. They had lost moments before the game on a bases loaded single by Texas Lutheran in the ninth, after they had taken the lead in the top of the inning.

In the first game, Barry Janisse had four hits, including his third home run of the ASC Tournament. Justin Wilson, Michael Popino and Geoff Wheeler each had three hits, with Wilson and Popino adding home runs. Wilson's shot tied him with Clay Johnston for the school single-season record with 12. Michael Simpson added a solo home run.

The Cowboys are now 28-18 on the season and will battle for their first ASC title on Sunday.