ABILENE, Texas – Hardin-Simmons' baseball team dropped a doubleheader to Concordia 8-3 and 14-4 on Saturday in American Southwest Conference action at Hunter Field.

The first game the Cowboys could not solve starter Dakota Palmer as he allowed just one hit through the first six innings. He did allow three runs in the seventh but went the distance and allowed just two hits and two earned runs to improve to 3-2.

Concordia scored in the second inning on RBI singles by Jess Lollar and Matt Armes and an RBI double by Aaron Gomez. The Tornados added three more runs in the fourth and one more in the fifth inning.

Jett Forrest had a two-run single for the Cowboys in the seventh and Sam Buchkowski added a sacrifice fly. Forrest and Gannon Azios had the only hit for the Cowboys. Chris Morrow and Armes had two hits each for Concordia.

Grant Mitzelfelt allowed seven runs (four earned) to take the loss and fall to 3-3 on the year. Javin Zoolkoski worked in relief it was his collegiate debut. Grayson Bearden worked two and two-third innings and allowed just one hit and no runs.

The Tornados had seven runs on nine hits in the first three innings to take a 7-0 lead.  HSU  then scored its only runs of the game in the fourth inning. Cole Antonelli and Azios each had RBI singles and Forrest had a sacrifice fly to cut the deficit.

Concordia added seven runs in the seventh inning.

The Tornados were led by Morrow and Julien Swift with three hits each in the 16-hit attack. Antonelli had two of the seven HSU hits.

Brandon Bane took the loss allowing six runs (five earned) over one and one-third innings. Kolten Kitchens, Wyatt Tumlinson and Jacob Posey worked out of the bullpen. Ryan Bailey earned the win with three and two-third innings of scoreless relief for the Tornados.  

The Cowboys are now 10-14 overall and 6-6 in ASC play. Concordia improved to 15-9 and the Tornados vaulted to second in the ASC standings with an 8-4 record.

HSU returns to action next weekend in Brownwood against Howard Payne.

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