GEORGETOWN, TEXAS - Southwestern University Baseball falls short on opening day at Rockwell Family Field against talented University of Mary Hardin-Baylor arms on Friday night, 4-1.
The Pirates received a phenomenal debut from freshman
Ben Roska who gave up zero earned runs in six innings of play. However, Southwestern committed four pivotal errors as UMHB carried a 4-0 led into the ninth following a dominant seven innings from their ace.
Junior
Owen Stevenson launched a solo home run 377 feet over the left center wall in the ninth. Despite the bomb, Southwestern fell short with only five hits on the night.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
- UMHB struck first following a throwing error and sacrifice fly in the second.
- Roska only faced 15 batters in the first four innings, allowing zero earned runs.
- The freshman faced adversity in the fifth with one out and a runner on third. Roska forced a Crusader to fly into shallow right field as sophomore Chase Adams threw a dart to gun down the runner at home.
- Senior Nolan Yeager entered in the seventh tossing a scoreless seventh.
- Senior Tres Organ, freshman Alex Ervesun, and Adams smoked singles in the bottom half. However, zero runners were scratched across as Organ was gunned down at third after the Ervesun single to right.
- UMHB took advantage of multiple walks and wild pitches to extend their lead to 4-1 after eight.
- Stevenson turned around a low 90's fastball in the ninth before the Crusaders reliever retired the next three batters.
GAME NOTES
- Roska kept the Crusaders off balance all night, forcing ten fly outs and five ground outs.
- Adams was the lone Pirate with multiple hits, going 2 for 4.
- Organ, Stevenson, and Ervesun totaled the other three hits.
- UMHB used three electric arms with 14 strikeouts.
UP NEXT
Southwestern looks to bounce back as game two of the series is at UMHB tomorrow at 2 p.m.
