Feb. 20, 2008

Box Score

The SU baseball team rallied from a 6-0 hole in the fourth inning to pull out a 15-10 victory over McMurry University on Wednesday (Feb. 20) afternoon in Georgetown, TX.

McMurry struck first and scored one run in the second, two in the third and three in the fourth to build a 6-0 lead on the Pirates through three and a half innings. In the bottom of the fourth, Eric Gonzales (Austin, TX/Bowie HS) drove in a pair of runs on a hard grounder back to the pitcher which turned in to a throwing error, followed by a ground ball to the shortstop off the bat of Matt Clark (Spring, TX/Klein HS) that scored another run. SU pulled within 6-3 without recording a hit in the inning.

The Bucs then opened up the fifth with a double from Blake Williams (Lufkin, TX/Lufkin HS) and then the first home run of the season for John Wooten (Columbus, TX/Columbus HS). That brought the score to 6-5, but SU was not done. Kyle Belski (Missouri City, TX/Dulles HS) singled, then Jamie Herrmann (Houston, TX/Westside HS) singled, then Gonzales doubled to score Belski, followed by a single from Clark that scored Herrmann. With one out, senior Richard Falcone (Houston, TX/Westside HS) hit a sacrifice fly to give the Pirates a 8-6 lead through five.

Southwestern kept the offense rolling in the seventh inning as the Pirates added seven runs on four hits and four walks. After seven innings, the Pirates held a commanding 15-6 lead. McMurry added a run in the eighth and three in the ninth for a final of 15-10.

Gonzales pounded out three hits in five at-bats with three runs batted in and two scored. He had two doubles and now has four for the season. Williams and Wooten had identical lines, going 2-4 with three runs scored, two runs batted in and one walk. Herrmann also had two hits in three at-bats and scored three times. Falcone and Clark both drove in two and scored once.

On the mound, sophomore Joe Lange (Houston, TX/Lamar HS) earned the win, evening his record at 1-1, by pitching one perfect inning in relief. Junior Wes Willis (Austin, TX/Austin HS) started the game, giving up six runs with four of them being earned. He struck out six while walking one and allowing seven hits. First-year Chris Churchwell (Kingwood, TX/Kingwood HS) pitched four innings in relief, allowing four runs on five hits. Only two of those runs were earned as he recorded five strikeouts and just one walk.

The win improves Southwestern's record to 2-4 on year while McMurry is now 2-5.

The Pirates play again on Thursday (Feb. 21) at home in Georgetown as they host Huston-Tillotson University at 3:00 pm.