BELTON — With a tight battle ongoing for the fifth and sixth playoff spots in the American Southwest Conference, the Sul Ross State baseball team took care of business against the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor on Saturday afternoon at Red Murff Field.
The Lobos defeated the Crusaders, 15-4, in eight innings during Game 3 to take the series two games to three.
As Howard Payne took the series against Concordia and LeTourneau won its first game against the University of Texas at Dallas on Saturday, the playoff picture still isn't clear.
>> HOW IT HAPPENED:
As severe weather delayed the game on Friday, the Lobos were up 1-0 in the second inning.
Carsen Thor got the Lobos on the board in the top of the first with a sacrifice fly to center that drove in
Primo Vasquez.
In the top of the third, Sul Ross increased its lead to 3-0.
Tristan Karels scored on an error by the second baseman while
Mateo Saenz brought in
Tye Lindsey with an RBI single.
The Crusaders managed to cut the deficit down to one run after scoring two in the fourth.
Sul Ross accelerated to an 8-2 lead by rallying for five runs in the top of the sixth.
Aaron Morales got things going by driving in a run on a fielder's choice. Karels then delivered an RBI single.
Lindsey followed up with a clutch three-run home run.
The Lobos weren't done yet on offense as they pushed across seven runs in the top of the eighth.
Lindsey scored the first run of the rally by coming across home on a wild pitch.
Saenz then delivered an RBI double while
Estevan Ortiz drove in a run with a single to make the score 11-3.
A run later scored on an error by the second baseman.
Morales drove in
Orlando Moreno with an RBI groundout and then Lindsey hit a two-RBI single.
The Lobos had 15 hits. Six Lobos had a multi-hit afternoon.
Lindsey finished with three RBI as he went 3 for 4 with two singles and a home run. Karels went 2 for 6 with two singles and three RBI.
Morales and Vasquez each went 2 for 5. Vasquez had one RBI while Morales drove in two runs.
Ortiz tallied a single and a double to go 2 for 3 with an RBI and a walk. Saenz also had a single and a double to finish 2 for 5 with two RBI.
Dawson Beard notched the win by throwing 3.2 innings allowing two earned runs and five hits with four strikeouts.
Cade Watson allowed one earned run in 3.1 innings of relief.
Aidan Mow tallied one strikeout while allowing three hits in one inning of work.
>> RECORDS: Sul Ross (17-20, 13-14); UMHB (14-21, 9-18)
>> UP NEXT: The 2023 ASC tournament begins Thursday, May 4 and runs until Sunday, May 7. No. 1 seeded East Texas Baptist will host the double-elimination tourney.
