Above photo of Anthony Tovar by CJ Halloran/@cjhall_photography
GEORGETOWN, Texas- In a midweek contest controlled by pitching, the UMHB baseball team’s bats made a little noise as well.
The Cru defeated Southwestern on Tuesday night by a score of 2-1 to move to 17-14 on the year. The Pirates of Southwestern, playing UMHB for the second time this season, dropped to 15-15 overall.
UMHB had recorded a hit in every inning except the fourth, but had yet to score a run as the top of the eighth got underway, with the visitors from Belton trailing 1-0.
The tide quickly turned in the Cru’s favor, however, as left fielder Kaden deBerardinis doubled off the right-center field wall to open the inning. Center fielder Dawson Shibley caught Southwestern off guard in the following at-bat, placing a bunt to the left side of the infield, which he beat out for a single. A passed ball charged to Pirates catcher Daniel Montgomery Jr. with shortstop Caimyn Holiday at bat moved Shibley to second, and the Cru in prime position to take the lead.
Shibley’s scamper to second was recorded a stolen base, but it was a questionable ruling by the official scorer.
Holiday popped out, but not before a wild pitch from Southwestern starter Aaron Clark found its way to the backstop and gave deBerardinis time to tie the score at one. A sacrifice fly off the bat of catcher Hunter McQuary in the ensuing at bat scored Shibley from third, and gave the Cru a 2-1 advantage that turned out to be the final score.
The contest was a pitcher’s duel in every definition of the word, as UMHB starter Alex Palczewski allowed just one hit, one walk, and zero runs in five innings of work. The Crusader bullpen kept the Pirate bats quiet for the next four frames, with Anthony Tovar replacing Palczewski for an inning before Zach Carroll closed out the victory.
Tovar allowed Southwestern its only run of the game, walking Bryce Debbs with the bases loaded, as Southwestern went up 1-0.
Carroll, who made great use of his arsenal of pitches and challenged the Southwestern hitters, earned his third win of the season. The freshman did not allow a hit in three innings and walked just two batters.
Southwestern was held to two hits for the entirety of the game, the last coming off Tovar in the sixth inning.
Clark was just as good in the first seven innings, allowing no more than one hit in any frame, and holding UMHB scoreless. Yet, it all seemed to unravel for the freshman in the eighth, as he picked up his first loss of the year and gave up 10 hits with both runs charged to his stat line.
UMHB is back in action with a three-game ASC series in Abilene this coming weekend against Hardin-Simmons. HSU is currently 5-13 in conference play.
