Cowboys Score Run in Ninth To Defeat Trinity

March 4, 2008

SAN ANTONIO, Texas - Hardin-Simmons' baseball team came up with a run in the top of the ninth inning and Josh Alcorn pitched a perfect ninth to shut the door in a 3-2 win over Trinity, Tuesday afternoon at E.M Stevens Field in San Antonio.

The Tigers threw ace Evan Bronson, who came into the game with a 0.59 era and a 2-0 record. He had struck out 22 batters in 15 innings of work coming into the contest.

HSU freshman Taylor Berlin got to him in the bottom of the second with a long home run to left center field. Trinity took the lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth. A Kyle Post throwing error played a key role in the two-run inning. Both runs were unearned.

The Cowboys came right back in the fifth and tied the game. James Gage, the Cowboys' leading hitter on the year, had a one-out single up the middle and then stole second base with two outs. J.T. Armstrong singled to center field to score Gage.

HSU went into the game looking to get its weekend pitchers work in ahead of the conference-opening series with McMurry. Lance Johnson started the game and went two and two-third innings. He allowed only three singles and no runs. James Sweatman followed him and allowed two hits and a pair of unearned runs. Nathan Copeland followed with one and one-third innings of scoreless relief.

Kyle Barton came on in the sixth and worked two and two-third innings of scoreless relief. He walked two batters in the eighth and gave way to Josh Alcorn, who got a strike out to get out of the eighth-inning jam.

The Cowboys then loaded the bases against Bronson in the ninth. Ryan Stepp led off with a single, Wayne Pimpton singled and Berlin bunted them over. James Gage was intentionally walked. Ryan Poffenroth came in for Trinity and induced a pop-up by Tre' Sellari on the right side. It was dropped, but the runners are allowed to advance at their own risk. Stepp scored on the play from third, but Gage was tagged out to end the Cowboys inning.

Alcorn then struck out the first two Trinity batters of the ninth and got a ground out to end the game and pick up the win out of the bullpen. He struck out three of his four batters in the game. Bronson took the loss as he allowed three earned runs and 12 hits.

HSU is now 8-3 on the year and will begin ASC action on Friday night at crosstown rival McMurry. First pitch is slated for 7 p.m. Trinity fell to 6-4 on the year.

--- HSU ---