ABILENE, Texas – Hardin-Simmons' baseball team came up with a roller-coaster 9-8 win over LeTourneau in the first game of a four-game American Southwest Conference series at Hunter Field on Thursday night.
 
The Cowboys, who had not played at home since March 5, got punched in the first inning when LeTourneau scored five runs. The first batter reached on a throwing error on a bunt play and Dane Jones immediately followed with a two-run home run.  LeTourneau added three more runs in the inning to chase starter Bradley Fletcher.
 
Freshman Jack Kimsey came into the game and got out of the first inning and worked six and two-third innings, allowing just one run. That run was the second home run of the game for Jones, who is the ASC's all-time leader with 50 career home runs.
 
The early deficit didn't bother the Cowboys. Justin Blancaflor had an RBI single with two outs in the first inning, his 17^th two-out RBI of the season.
 
HSU then tied the game in the second inning, Luke Kirkbride had an RBI groundout, Jacob Hollingworth had a fielder's choice and an error brought in two runs and Baylan Vaughn had an RBI triple.
 
Layden White had an RBI double in the third to give the Cowboys the lead and Vaughan added an RBI double in the fourth inning to make the score 7-6.
 
Kinsey got out of a bases-loaded no-out jam in the seventh inning to keep the Cowboys in the lead. LeTourneau tied the game in the eighth inning on a Jack Kale RBI groundout with the bases loaded.
 
HSU retook the lead in the bottom of the eighth, when Kirkbride, Hollingsworth, Vaughan and Brock Calvillo had four straight singles with two outs. Vaughan's RBI single tied the game and Calvillo's single gave the Cowboys a much-needed insurance run.
 
Isaac Price led off the ninth inning with a solo home run. Zach Baker had a one-out single and Austin Weiderhold lined to left. Head coach Mitch Wilson decided to intentionally walk Jones for the second-straight time and Xander Nabors grounded out to end the game.  
 
Vaughan had three hits to lead the Cowboys offense. Price had three hits for LeTourneau.
 
Johnny Follett earned the win in relief and Clayton Holt took the loss.
 
HSU is now 7-17 on the year and 4-5 in ASC play. LeTourneau fell to 15-13 overall and 7-2 in conference play. The teams will play a 4 p.m. doubleheader on Friday.
 
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