Deep into the SCAC conference season, the Southwestern baseball team dropped a pair of conference games on Saturday. 

Southwestern struck first with a run in the second as Tyler Bludau drove home Austyn Laird. Austin College didn't record a baserunner until the third inning and posted their first run in the fifth to tie the game 1-1.

AC added on in the seventh and three in the eighth, shocking the Pirates and taking a 5-1 lead. In the bottom of the ninth Southwestern plated one but could not keep the rally going as Clayton Sparks struck out.

Both teams posted eight hits in the game with Southwestern being led by Chase Allen who went 3-4. Noah Clark garnered the loss with 2.1 innings of work, allowing three runs on three hits.

At the start of the second game, Austin College posted one run in the first and SU matched the effort with a run of their own.

Southwestern took a slight advantage in the third as Sparks singled through the left side to drive home Will Cates. Austin College tied the game at 2-2 in the seventh and set the stage for the exciting finish.

AC and SU both had runners in scoring position but neither was able to capitalize until Austin College pushed one across in the top of the ninth on an SU throwing error.

Austin College went on to post six runs in the innings to take an 8-2 victory over the Pirates.

Cates led at the plate going 4-4 on the day with three runs scored. Austin Smith suffered the loss with 1.1 innings of work, allowing one run on one hit.

Southwestern falls to 14-13 on the year and 6-3 in the SCAC while Austin College improves to 5-14 overall and 3-6 in conference action.

The Pirates return home for non-conference action against Hardin-Simmons on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at home.