GAME ONE BOX SCORE

GAME TWO BOX SCORE

Abilene, Texas – Ryan Ullmann registered four strikeouts and Tyler Bain drove in his 10th run of the season, but the Concordia University Texas baseball team dropped both ends of a twinbill against Hardin-Simmons by scores of 2-0 and 6-2 on Saturday, March 16 at Hunter Field. Despite the setbacks, the Tornados ended the weekend tied for second place in the American Southwest Conference West Division standings.

Concordia's Ullmann and Hardin-Simmons' James Simmons found themselves locked in a pitcher's duel in the opener. The Cowboy offense, however, broke through in the bottom of the fourth by playing small ball. Jon Finney was able to get to first despite striking out on a wild pitch and moved into scoring position on a bunt single by Marcus Uechi. Andrew Bell then sacrificed the runners over to second and third before two consecutive infield singles allowed Finney to score.

After the Tornados stranded one runner in the fifth and sixth, Hardin-Simmons doubled its lead in the bottom of the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Troy Nicholson. Simmons finished his shutout performance by recording a strikeout and inducing two groundouts against the Tornados in the top of the seventh.

Ullmann took the tough-luck loss for Concordia and fell to 2-2 despite surrendering just three hits and two runs, including one that was earned, over six innings of work. He recorded four strikeouts and issued only one walk. Simmons earned the clean sheet and improved his ledger to 3-3. He allowed three hits, struck out five and did issued two walks.

In the nightcap, Concordia got its offense going by scoring twice in the top of the fourth. Chance Leissner hit a leadoff single before Cade Samuelson, who entered the game as a pinch runner, was sacrificed over to second. Hollier then drew a walk, and a wild pitch allowed the runners to move to second and third. Another wild pitch sent home Samuelson to tie the game, and Tyler Bain drove in the go-ahead run by hitting into a fielder's choice.

Hardin-Simmons (14-8, ASC 4-2), however, successfully executed a squeeze play to plate the equalizing run in the bottom of the fifth and broke away by getting a 3-run homer from Finney in the sixth. A Trey Thompson sacrifice fly that scored Nicholson in the seventh frame sealed the final outcome.

Stewart Person earned the win for Hardin-Simmons after pitching 2.2 scoreless innings of relief. He gave up just two hits and registered one strikeout. Concordia's Trey Pledger took the loss and fell to 2-1 by giving up two hits and two runs, which were both earned, in one frame of work.

Concordia (12-13, ASC 4-2) hosts Sul Ross State for a three-game series next weekend. The first game will be played on Friday, March 22 at 7 p.m.
-agate-
Concordia                                               000     000     0         0     3     1
Hardin-Simmons                                  000     101     x          2     3     1
Concordia: Ryan Ullmann and Matt Smith.
Hardin-Simmons: James Simmons and Zack Patino.

Concordia (12-13, ASC 4-2)               000     200     000     2     6     0
Hardin-Simmons (14-8, ASC 4-2)     100     013     10x     6    10    3
Concordia: Scott Weinschenk, Trey Pledger (5), Bobby Jones (6), Colin Butschek (7), Cade Radley (8) and Tyler Bain.
Hardin-Simmons: Matt Rhodes, Stewart Person (4), Tyler Brunnemann and Chris Matthews.