MARSHALL, Texas – Hardin-Simmons' baseball team fell 5-3 to East Texas Baptist Sunday afternoon in the ASC Championship Game in Marshall.
The Cowboys got on the scoreboard first in the second inning when
Paul Samaripa came home off a wild pitch.
Hunter Trojacek added another run when he had a base hit to score
Ty McCoy.
ETBU got on the board in the fourth inning via two home runs with a walk in between to take a 3-2 lead.
HSU responded in the fifth inning off a
Catcher Ridings base hit to bring home
Jacob Hollingsworth. The Tigers reclaimed the lead for good in the bottom half of the inning with a home run from Joaquin Costa.
ETBU added an insurance run in the eighth inning on a solo shot from Brody Tewers, which made the score 5-3. The Cowboys had two on in the ninth before striking out to end the game.
Ridings led the Cowboys with three hits and an RBI.
Gavin Bruning and McCoy each had two hits as well. Six Tigers each had a hit, with Kahne Nolen picking up two RBIs.
Freshman
Jeron Flores got the start for the Cowboys and went three and two-thirds innings, giving up four hits and three runs.
Kannon Baird came out of the bullpen and had the loss to drop to 2-1 on the year.
Garrett Keller finished the last two and two-thirds innings, allowing just one hit.
Cody Myers started for the Tigers and went four innings, giving up seven hits and three runs. Conner Smeltzer came in and closed the game, going five innings, scattering four hits while striking out eight. Smeltzer picked up the win and improved to 4-0 on the year.
Caleb Reynolds,
Gavin Bruning, and
Hunter Trojacek were named to the ASC All-Tournament team.
East Texas Baptist improved to 33-10 with the win. Hardin-Simmons finishes the year 26-16 under head coach
Mitch Wilson, which is the most wins since 2016. This marks the final game for the eight Hardin-Simmons seniors.
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