Offense was the word of the day at Rockwell field Saturday as the Pirates outlasted the Hendrix Warriors 19-18 to take the first game of this two-game weekend series.

The two teams combined for 37 runs, 34 hits, and nine errors in what was an offensive slugfest from the first inning. At least two runs were scored in every inning and there was only one inning where each team was held to one run.

Hendrix started the barrage in the first, scoring three on Jeff Forgerson's three run double. The Warriors then added two more in the second before the Pirates got on the board with two in the bottom half of the inning on Nick Ashford's RBI double and Nate Shipp's RBI single. The teams traded three run innings in the third and the Warriors took an 8-5 lead into the bottom of the fourth. In that frame the Pirates scored three more to tie the game at eight on Cray Betts' sacrifice fly and Patrick Keenan's (pictured) two-run homerun to right center.

From there the game stayed close until Hendrix appeared to break it open in the top of the eighth with five runs giving them a 16-11 lead. The Bucs' bats responded however with eight runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning to retake the lead. The rally was aided by two errors by the Hendrix infield and a Brett Martin triple that plated two and regained the lead for Southwestern. Cray Betts and Nick Ashford followed with RBI hits of their own giving the Pirates a 19-16 lead heading into the ninth. Freshman reliever Tyler Poi found himself in trouble in the ninth but managed to get Hendrix infielder Kyle Raskin to strike out with two men on base to end the game.

Fittingly, on Senior Appreciation Day, when nine Pirates had at least one hit, seniors Patrick Keenan and Nick Ashford led with way with five hits and a homerun each. Ashford added six RBIs and three runs scored while Keenan drove in three and scored five times. Prior to the game the nine graduating seniors were honored for their dedication and accomplishments throughout their time at Southwestern. Then, they each caught ceremonial first pitches from one of their parents.

The win improved the Bucs' record to 16-17 on the year and 7-10 in the SCAC. The two teams will play again tomorrow at Rockwell Field starting at 1:00 PM.