BOX SCORE

Abilene, Texas – Brent Schaekel went 2-for-4 with two runs batted in and Austin Rupert recorded eight strikeouts on the mound to lead the Concordia University Texas baseball team to a 6-1 win over Hardin-Simmons on Friday, March 15 at Hunter Field. The Tornados remained unbeaten in American Southwest Conference West Division play.

Hardin-Simmons starting pitcher Jordan Dotson had major control issues at the beginning of the game that Concordia took advantage of to get on the board in the top of the first. Schaekel, who reached base on a fielding error by the Cowboy second baseman to begin the game, advanced to second on a wild pitch. After Casey Skalaban walked on the next play, another wild throw by Dotson allowed Skalaban and Schaekel to advance to second and third, respectively. Connor Bertsch then drew a free pass to first to load the bases, and Andrew Burns followed with a sacrifice fly to dead center that plated Schaekel.

Concordia (12-11, ASC 4-0) added three more runs in the top of the seventh to start breaking the game open. Schaekel drove in the first run on a single to center and scored on a sacrifice bunt by Skalaban. Guest also came home during the frame due to a throwing error by the Cowboy catcher.

Hardin-Simmons (12-8, ASC 2-2) eventually got on the board in the bottom of the seventh courtesy of an RBI single by Caleb Jacques that drove in Colson Craddick, but Concordia shook it off and plated two more runs in the top of the eighth. Schaekel and Skalaban each drew a bases-loaded walk to help seal the final outcome.

Austin Rupert picked up the victory and improved to 3-1 for Concordia. He allowed just one run, which was unearned, in 4.2 innings of relief while striking out eight and not issuing a walk. Hardin-Simmons' Dotson took the loss and fell to 3-1. He yielded two hits and one run, which was unearned, and struck out four.

Concordia and Hardin-Simmons play a doubleheader tomorrow beginning at 1 p.m.
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Concordia (12-11, ASC 4-0)  100 000 320 6 8 1
Hardin-Simmons (12-8, ASC 2-2) 000 000 100 1 5 2
Concordia: Bristan Clingaman, Austin Rupert (5) and Tyler Bain.
Hardin-Simmons: Jordan Dotson, Eric Zamora (6), Parker Robinson (6), Ryan Reagor (8), Alex Bradley (8) and Chris Matthews.