ABILENE, Texas – The Southwestern University Pirates' baseball team put together a season-best offensive performance with 19 hits in a 15-8 victory over the Hardin-Simmons University (HSU) Cowboys on the road.

Byron Dowdell II continued his recent power surge, hitting 3-for-6 with five RBI and another home run, bringing his season total up to six after producing the long ball in five of the past six games.

On the mound for the Pirates, starter Aaron Clark pitched six innings, giving up eight runs with seven earned on eight hits with five walks and three strikeouts. Relief pitcher Machi Horne went the final three innings, surrendering only two hits and no runs with four strikeouts to pick up the save.

The Pirates opened the game with two runs in the top of the first with Ted Lobkowicz and Daniel Montgomery Jr. leading off with a walk and single to right field, setting up Dowdell's RBI-double to left center with one out, scoring Lobkowicz.

After Colby Schmidt walked, Ethan Hallmark scored Montgomery with a RBI-single to center field.

The Cowboys quickly retook the lead, opening the bottom of the first with a Hunter Garrison leadoff double and Jamie Dominguez walk. After Cade Johnson flied out and John Tople went down swinging, Clark walked Brett Hudspeth to load the bases for Matthew Lillard's three-RBI double to right center.

HSU added another run in the bottom of the second, taking advantage of a walk, single, and hit batter to load the bases and score on a wild pitch for a 4-2 lead.

Dowdell hit a two-RBI home run to left center in the top of the third to tie the game and Chase Thinger hit a RBI-infield single to score Colby Schmidt to put the Pirates on top 5-4. HSU responded with a leadoff home run by Lillard to tie the game in the bottom of the inning.

An error in the fourth kept the Pirates alive long enough for Schmidt to capitalize with a RBI-single to left field to score Lobbkowicz with an unearned run.

The Pirates opened the top of the fifth putting the first three hitters on with Seth Sparks reaching on an error, Thinger walking, and Brodie Maloney hitting an infield single to third base. Lobkowicz walked to score Sparks and Montgomery reached on a fielder's choice, scoring Thinger while Lobkowicz was put out at second in a failed double play attempt. Cole Kelly followed with a sacrifice fly, scoring Maloney for the deciding run and a 9-5 lead.

HSU scored on a wild pitch with Jacob Rains crossing the plate after reaching on a hit by pitch.

Hallmark hit a RBI-single and later scored on a throwing error as the Pirates scored two more in the top of the sixth while Cade Johnson homered in the bottom of the inning, scoring Jamie Dominguez, who led the inning off with a single.

The Pirates scored four more in the top of the ninth on four hits, including two doubles, and a walk.

With the win, the Pirates improve to 14-6 on the season. Southwestern will face East Texas Baptist on the road in a three-game series this weekend from Friday, March 29 through Saturday, March 30 with the doubleheader on the season day.