The Austin College baseball team took a 1-1 game into the ninth inning, but the visiting Southwestern University Pirates brought a run home in the top half of the inning and the 'Roos were unable to counter in their final at bat as the 'Roos fell 2-1 in their last home game of the season on Sunday. The 'Roos are now 5-21 overall and 2-12 in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play with the loss.
After a scoreless first inning, Southwestern's Nate Shipp led off the top of the second with a solo homer to left, but from that point forward the 'Roos and Pirates became locked in a pitcher's duel between Austin College's Blaine Tew and Southwestern's Max Smith.
Austin College did manage to put one run across in the fourth to tie things up when Colt Herron doubled down the left field line and later came around to score, and Tew retired eight straight batters beginning in the second and surrendered only two more base hits before exiting after eight strong innings to subdue the Pirates.
Southwestern's Charlie Garrett led off the top of the ninth with a base hit, and after advancing on a wild pitch, came around to score on a single by Shipp for what would ultimately be the deciding run.
John Schulmeister took the loss after giving up one run on three hits in 1.0 inning of work. Tew threw 8.0 innings, surrendering one run on four hits with three strikeouts, and seven different players had a hit apiece for the 'Roos. Smith threw a complete game, giving up one unearned run on seven hits with seven strikeouts and no walks, and Shipp finished 2-for-4 with a homer and two RBI.
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.