ABILENE, Texas – Hardin-Simmons' baseball team dropped an American Southwest Conference doubleheader to East Texas Baptist, falling 8-6 in the first game and 15-1 in the nightcap on Thursday at Hunter Field.
In the first game, ETBU scored three runs in the second inning on an unfortunate break for the Cowboys. Carson Livesay grounded to first with runners at second and third and two outs and the ball was headed right to first baseman
Hunter Trojacek but the ball took a weird hop and bounced behind him to plate two runs. Livesay later scored as well.
The game was still 3-0 heading into the bottom of the fifth inning and the Cowboys rallied to take the lead with four runs in the bottom of the fifth.
Jacob Hollingsworth had a sacrifice fly and
Justin Blancaflor hit an inside-the-park home run that hit off the green monster in center field and Raef Wright the centerfielder went down trying to make the catch and Blancaflor scored easily before the other outfielder could get there.
ETBU came right back with five runs in the sixth to take the lead back. The Tigers took advantage of three walks and two hit batsmen as well as a pair of balks by three different Cowboy pitchers.
Benji Fielder had an RBI double and Trojacek brought home another run on a fielder's choice to narrow the deficit to 8-6.
Caleb Reynolds started and went four and two-third innings allowing three runs and six hits.
Garrett Keller allowed two runs to take the loss and
Ethan Cloudt and
Jace Martinez also worked out of the bullpen.
Issac Thornton also went four and two-third innings for the Tigers and allowed four runs on five hits. Conner Smeltzer picked up the win with two-thirds of an inning of relief. Aiden Leonard worked the final inning and two-thirds for the save.
Fielder, Blancaflor and
Hunter Molinar had two hits each for the Cowboys. Jobee Boone had two hits for ETBU.
In the nightcap, the Tigers struck for another big inning, a five-run second. Justin Flannery had the big blow with a grand slam out of the nine hole.
The game remained tied at 5-0 until the bottom of the fifth when Hollingsworth had an RBI double for the Cowboys.
ETBU put the game away with 10 runs in the sixth inning. The Tigers took advantage of six walks and a hit batsmen. Brody Tewers then delivered the second grand slam of the game for the Tigers. Flannery also added a three-run home run.
Jeron Flores fell to 4-3 with the loss. He went five and two-third innings and allowed nine runs. Keller and
Guy George worked out of the bullpen. Cody Meyers earned the win worked five and two-third innings.
Boone led ETBU with three hits and four different Cowboys had one hit each.
HSU is now 16-12 on the year and 0-3 in conference play. ETBU improved to 21-10 overall and 3-0 in league play. The teams will conclude the series at noon on Friday.
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