The Austin College baseball team split its doubleheader with Southwestern University on Saturday afternoon, coming up short in a 6-4 comeback bid in game one before holding off the Pirates late for a 3-1 game two victory. The 'Roos are now 5-20 overall and 2-11 in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play this season.
In game one, the Pirates raced out to a 6-0 lead after scoring a run in both the first and second innings and tacking on four more in the top of the fourth, but the 'Roos narrowed the gap in the bottom half of the inning with four runs of their own. Shane Williams smacked a two run double and Chase Muder added a two run single in the inning for Austin College.
The 'Roos would not be able to chip away at the deficit anymore, however, as the team went hitless over the final three innings of the game. Seven different players had a hit for the 'Roos, while Cullen Calabria suffered the loss after surrendering six runs, five earned on eight hits with four strikeouts in 6.0 innings of work.
In game two, the 'Roos and Pirates were locked into a pitcher's duel deep into the game until Lance Gottardy scored on a sacrifice fly to give Southwestern a 1-0 lead in the sixth, but in the bottom of the eighth Mason Leech led off the inning with a home run off the foul pole in left field, and Austin College would grab the lead when Todd Takabuki and Dylan Day scored on a two run single by Colt Herron. Southwestern loaded the bases in the ninth, but Austin Molinaro induced a game ending groundout to earn the win in relief.
Leech went 2-for-3 to lead the 'Roos and Molinaro tossed 3.1 innings of shutout ball to get the win in relief. Marshall Korn had a strong outing in the no decision, surrendering one run on only two hits with four strikeouts in 5.2 innings of work.
The 'Roos and Pirates will hook up again tomorrow for the final game of their season series and as the 'Roos celebrate Senior Day. Game time is set for 1:00 p.m. at Baker Field.
Austin College athletic teams participate as a member of the NCAA Division III and the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference.
About Austin College
Austin College is a leading national independent liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas. Founded in 1849, making it the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original charter and name, the college is related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA). Recognized nationally for academic excellence in the areas of international education, pre-professional training, and leadership studies, Austin College is one of 40 schools profiled in Loren Pope's influential book Colleges that Change Lives.