GEORGETOWN, Texas – The Southwestern University Pirates baseball team jumped out to an early lead and held on late, defeating the Arlington Baptist Patriots 10-8 at home.

Southwestern struck first, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first when Hayden Craig scored on a Daniel Montgomery Jr. double to left field. Byron Dowdell II added another with a RBI double to left field, scoring Montgomery for a 2-0 lead.

Over the next few innings, the Pirates trickled in runs, getting a RBI-double to left field by Ethan Hallmark in the bottom of the third and a pair of RBI in the fourth from Jase Amaya and Craig. The Patriots final got on board in the top of the fifth with a RBI-single from Brandt Roush, scoring Ricky Boren, who reached on a walk.

The Pirates created separation in the bottom of the sixth with B. Kendall hitting a RBI-double to right field, scoring Kevin Stein. Two outs later, Montgomery hit a RBI-single to center field. Cole Kelly followed with a RBI triple and Dowdell another RBI-single for a 9-1 lead.

Southwestern starting pitcher Aaron Clark pitched six innings for the Pirates, shutting Arlington Baptist down by holding them to just two hits with six strikeouts but walking five to give up one earned run. The bullpen struggled, giving up three runs in the seventh and four in the eighth to cut the Pirate lead to 9-8. Bryce Debbs singled to right-center in the bottom of the eighth inning, scoring Craig for the 10-8 lead and the Pirates' defense left two Patriots stranded in the top of the ninth to pull away with the victory.

With the win, the Pirates improve to 16-11 on the season. Southwestern will host Texas-Tyler tomorrow at 6:00 p.m.