Game 1 Boxscore
Game 2 Boxscore

BELTON, Texas — Hardin-Simmons and Mary Hardin-Baylor split a pair of American Southwest Conference games on Monday afternoon at Red Murff Field, with the Cowboys winning 5-4 in the first game and UMHB winning the nightcap by the same score.

In the first game, the Cowboys got a gutsy 132-pitch complete-game from ace Kyle Barton. The senior struck out 11 batters in the complete game win. He allowed four runs (two earned) on six hits.

UMHB jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a pair of unearned runs in the first. Marcus Volz led off with a single and then Andrew White hit a routine double play ball that was bobbled for an error. Volz then scored when Regan Dixon the Cowboy catcher tried to throw behind him at second and the ball went into centerfield. Joseph Villegas then reached on a fielder's choice that did not result in an out and the bases were loaded. Derek Draeger hit a sacrifice fly.

The Cowboys then exploded for four runs in the third inning. Jaxon Jordan, Kevin Ellison and Brian Weeks led off the inning with three straight singles. Matt Roam then hit a sacrifice fly to center field and Regan Dixon followed with a three-run home run to left. It was his ninth home run of the year.

HSU added to the lead with a single run in the fourth inning. Ellison singled with two outs and stole second base and Weeks singled him home.

UMHB added a couple of runs in the fifth inning. Villegas had a one-out single and moved to second when Draeger was hit by a pitch. R.B. Garza then doubled down the left field line to score both runners. Barton then got the next two batters to strike out.

Barton worked around a leadoff walk in the sixth and in the seventh he had a two-out walk, but got a ground out to end the game. Weeks and Ellison each had two hits to pace the Cowboy offense.

Ethan Henderson took the loss for UMHB as he allowed eight hits and five runs over three and two-third innings of work.

In the second game, Weeks led off the game with a home run to left and the Cowboys added single runs in the third and fourth innings to take a 3-0 lead. J.T. Armstrong had a solo home run in the third and in the fourth James Gage walked and moved to third on a single by Kevin Ellison. Kyle Post then hit a sacrifice fly to center.

The Cowboy defense let them down in the third and three runs scored. Joseph Villegas turned a misplayed ball to left into a double and then Draeger reached on an error. Kyle Moreau singled to left field to score a run then Lynn grounded out to drive in a run and UMHB tied the game on a wild pitch that allowed the runner to score from third.

HSU came back and took the lead in the sixth inning when Brian Weeks had a two-out single to left to score Michael Morgan, who had pinch ran for Jaxon Jordan. UMHB came right back and scored a run on a two-out double by Lynn to right center.

UMHB scored the eventual winning run in the seventh inning when Andrew White drove in Alfredo Melendez who had singled to lead off the inning and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt.

Tim Kriegel went the distance on the mound for the Cowboys and allowed five runs (only three earned) and struck out 10. He fell to 2-3 with the loss. R.B. Garza went seven innings for the win. He allowed four runs and struck out eight. Sam Van Hoozer came in the eighth and shut the Cowboys down for two innings to earn his fifth save.

HSU is now 11-10 on the year and 3-3 in ASC West play. UMHB improved to 12-8 and 4-2 in league play. HSU will host Schreiner on Friday at 7 p.m.


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