'Roo Baseball Drops Two to Southwest (N.M.)

SHERMAN, Texas – The Austin College baseball team dropped both halves of its doubleheader on Saturday against the University of the Southwest (N.M.), but the 'Ros fell 4-2 in game one and 5-4 in game two in the second doubleheader of the weekend series. Austin College falls to 3-7 overall with the two losses.

The teams were scoreless through two innings in game one before Southwest opened things up with a three run frame in the third. Isaiah Peters knocked in a double and Felipe Lopez drove in two more to put the Mustangs ahead, and the lead grew to 4-0 with another run in the fifth. That was more cushion than USW pitcher Alex Goodman needed, taking a perfect game into the sixth before Austin College finally got to him and put two runs on the board.

Scott Gelbart knocked in both runs for Austin College with a single through the right side, scoring Oscar Gonzalez and Austin Dudley to cut it to a 4-2 game. However, that's as close as the 'Roos would get in the two-run loss. Christian Thomas went the distance for the 'Roos in taking the loss, surrendering four runs – three earned – while striking out eight batters. Austin College finished with five hits, with Gelbart going 1-for-3 with two RBI to lead the way at the plate.

In game two, Southwest opened the game with four straight doubles, putting three runs on the board in the top of the first. The 'Roos got one run back in the bottom of the inning when Brett Taff drove one in, and Gonzalez knocked in another run in the second to make it a 3-2 game.

Gelbart scored in the third on a sacrifice fly by James Wyche to square things up, but the Mustangs got an RBI double from Nate Caban in the fourth to go on top 4-3. Austin College would again knot things up, this time when Taff came home on a double steal attempt, crossing the plate before Wyche could be tagged for the third out of the fifth inning.

However, the Mustangs would load the bases in the top of the seventh and Lopez would just beat a throw from right field on a sacrifice fly for the go-ahead run and Austin College stranded the tying run at second in the bottom half of the inning.

Braley Williams took the loss in relief, surrendering one run on one hit in 1.1 innings of work. Taff went 2-for-3 at the dish, and Dudley went 2-for-4. Taff also stole two bases in the loss.

Austin College athletic teams participate as a member of the NCAA Division III and the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference.