ABILENE, Texas – Despite rallying from a five-run deficit and taking a late lead, Hardin-Simmons came up just short in a 10-9 loss to Central (Iowa) on Friday night at Hunter Field. The Cowboys (4-4) erased a 7-2 deficit and grabbed a 9-8 advantage in the eighth inning before Central answered with two runs in the ninth to secure the victory.

Central (2-1) struck first in the opening inning when Dom DeLapaz hit a two-run homer to left-center after an error extended the frame. Hardin-Simmons answered in the bottom half as Jacob Hollingsworth doubled down the left-field line and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Brock Calvillo.

The Cowboys tied the game in the second when Cannon Negron doubled and came home on a Benji Fielder RBI single through the left side. The Dutch broke things open in the sixth. DeLapaz led off the inning with his second home run of the game, and Central added four more runs in the frame, highlighted by RBI hits from Bryer Wiley, Stephen Stufflebeam, and Max Steinlage, to take a 7-2 lead.

Hardin-Simmons responded immediately in the bottom half. Catcher Ridings doubled, and Luke Najera followed with a single. Mike Lozano delivered a two-run double to right-center, and the Cowboys took advantage of two wild pitches to trim the deficit to 7-5.

After Central added a run in the seventh on a sacrifice fly by Garrett Guenther, the Cowboys answered again. Hollingsworth singled and later scored on Najera's two-run double to make it 8-7.
Hardin-Simmons completed its comeback in the eighth. Justin Blancaflor and Douglas Randall scored on Hollingsworth's two-run double to right-center, giving the Cowboys their first lead at 9-8.

In the ninth, Max Steinlage and Brayden Sawyer drew walks before DeLapaz delivered again, lining a two-run double down the left-field line to put the Dutch back in front, 10-9.
Hardin-Simmons put the tying run in scoring position in the bottom half when Karson Leatherwood stole second after entering as a pinch runner, but Central brought in Caleb Stewart, who induced a flyout and groundout to end the game.

Jack Kimsey started for the Cowboys and went six innings, allowing ten hits and seven runs, with only five being earned. Kimsey picked up three strikeouts with only one walk. Garrett Keller worked two innings of relief, allowing just one hit and one run.  Mark Kenney started for the Dutch and went five and two-thirds innings, allowing five runs on six hits.

Turner Williams (1-0) earned the win in relief for Central, while Stewart picked up his first save. Ethan Cloudt (0-1) took the loss for Hardin-Simmons.

Hardin-Simmons returns to action on Saturday when the two teams close out the three-game series with a doubleheader beginning at noon from Hunter Field.
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