Southwestern baseball needed a game winning single in the bottom of the seventh to win game on and came out in game two with bats ablazing to defeat Cardinal Stritch University 8-7 and 16-4 on Wednesday afternoon. With the wins the Pirates improve to 10-11 on the year.
No matter the runs the Pirates put on the board in game one Cardinal Stritch had the answer in the top half of their inning until the final inning where Southwestern pushed the game winner across the plate.
Chris Lowry led off the first with a double down the right field line and followed with a stolen base to advance to third, setting up the RBI opportunity for Cray Betts. Betts took advantage and brought in the first run of the game with a deep fly ball to center field.
Cardinal Stritch wasted no time tying the game as Cook sent the first pitch over the left field fence to tie the game at 1.
Brett Martin started off the second with a stand-up double to right field that careened off the fence and he was brought home when Gregory Thumm hit the gap in left center for an RBI single to put Southwestern up 2-0 through two innings.
A lead-off double to left field started off the top of the third for the Wolves and after a sacrifice bunt advanced the runner to third, Herberg scored on Smith's long sacrifice to right field, tying the game once again.
Cray Betts' double to centerfield drove in Lowry in the bottom of the third and Johnny Gavrel followed with a homerun just inside the left field foul pole. After the Pirates drove in two more runs they lead by five, 7-3 after the third.
CSU drove in five in the fourth to tie the game once again, 7-7 and after two quiet innings the Pirates jumped back into action, getting runners at second and third, but were unable to push one across.
SU threatened again in the bottom of the seventh with a one out walk to Patrick Keenan and a single by Thumm to put runners at first and second. Zach Lynch drew a walk to load the bases for pinch hitter Lance Gottardy who delivered the game-winning RBI single between short and third to hand Southwestern the 8-7 win.
Aaron Garza earned his first win of the season to move to 1-1 on the year after throwing three innings, allowing one hit and no runs while walking three and striking out two. CSU's Simon garnered the loss to fall to 0-2 on the year.
Betts led at the plate in game one, going 2-3 with two RBI's and one run scored for the Pirates.
Southwestern was first on the board once again in game two, batting around and scoring six runs to open the game thanks in part to a two-out, two-RBI double by Thumm.
Cardinal Stritch pulled within five after a two-run third and then cut the deficit to three, 7-4 with two more runs in the sixth. Southwestern responded by loading the bases with one out in the bottom of the sixth and Zach Lynch's shot to left was just inches from a grand slam as he drove the pitch off the wall for a double, driving in two runs. After a barrage of walks and hits the Pirates found themselves up by 12 at the end of six innings, needing to just set down the Wolves in the top of the seventh to seal the win.
Max Smith came in in relief and did just that, setting the Wolves down without a hit to close out the 16-4 win.
Jason Stading earned his second win of the season after throwing six innings, allowing just four hits and four runs while walking three and striking out three.
Martin and Lynch led the charge at the plate, both posting three hits and three RBI's in game two.
Southwestern remains at home for a double header on Saturday against soon-to-be SCAC opponent the University of Dallas beginning at 1:00 pm.