AUSTIN, Texas – The Southwestern baseball team split a doubleheader with No. 18 Concordia Texas Saturday at Tornado Field. The Tornados won the opener, 11-2, but the Pirates salvaged the series with a 4-3 victory in the nightcap.

Southwestern (3-10) received a solid pitching performance in the series finale from Will Preston (1-1), who earned the win. The right-hander worked 6.2 innings and scattered seven hits and three runs. He also fanned six.

The Pirates started the game with three runs in the top of the first inning. After Concordia Texas (4-5) responded with two runs in the second, Southwestern picked up one in the third on Austyn Laird's RBI single.

Preston held the Tornados scoreless the next four frames.

Concordia took advantage of two errors to push across a run in the seventh to pull within 4-3.

Riley Wayland retired the first two batters in the ninth. The Tornados then loaded the bases before Wayland retired the final batter on a pop out to notch the save.

In the opening game of the day, Concordia racked up 13 hits and used a five-run third inning and four-run fourth to cruise to a nine-run victory.

Southwestern scored both of its runs in the fourth, as Clayton Sparks posted an RBI double and was driven in on Ben Little's triple.

Hayden Holley (0-2) was handed the loss after he yielded five runs on six hits in three innings of work.

The Pirates will return to action on Tuesday, March 1, at Mary Hardin-Baylor. First pitch for the non-conference tilt is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Red Murff Field in Belton.

– SOUTHWESTERN –