CONWAY, Ark. (March 13) -- Hendrix College first year Thomas Weber retired 15 consecutive batters between the third and eighth innings to lead the Warriors to a 10-7 victory over Southwestern University on Sunday afternoon at Warrior Field.
Weber earned his first collegiate victory after scattering eight hits over 7.1 frames. The right-hander from Gatesville, Texas fanned seven batters and did not allow a free pass. Hendrix junior Geoff Lomax entered in relief to finish the final 1.2 innings.
Hendrix (7-9, 5-6 SCAC) lit up the scoreboard in its first at bat when junior Clark Sims led off with an infield single, took second on a sacrifice bunt, stole third and then raced home on senior Jeff Forgerson's base knock through the right side.
Southwestern (8-10, 4-6) loaded the bases in the second after a pair of lead-off singles and an error at third base. Sophomore Gregory Thumm tagged a sacrifice fly to center and then sophomore Charlie Garrett drove in a run with a single to left center.
Southwestern added one run in the top of the third on a homer to left field by sophomore Johnny Gavrel, his second of the year. Weber responded to Gavrel's roundtripper by retiring the next 15 batters he saw. Southwestern junior Nate Shipp finally reached base with one out in the eighth on a single down the right field line.
The Warriors rallied for five runs on six hits and one error in the bottom of the third to take a 6-3 lead. Sims ignited the rally with a lead off single and Richardson followed with a bunt single. First year Collin Radack scored Sims and Richardson on a single to right field. First year Jacob Perschke drove in a run on a fielder's choice up the middle and junior Nathan Harr tagged a two-run single to left field.
Hendrix stretched the gap with two runs in the next inning when Harr placed a single down the right field line with two outs, scoring Forgerson and Radack.
Sims made it a 9-3 ball game in the fifth when he singled to left field, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and sprinted 180 feet home on a botched pickoff attempt at second and then an errant throw in from center field.
The Bucs scored once in the eighth and the Warriors added an insurance run in the bottom half of the inning on a RBI triple by Forgerson. Southwestern scored its final three runs in the ninth on a RBI double and a two-run single. Lomax sent Gavrel back to the dugout looking to end the game.
Hendrix will host Central Baptist College on Tuesday, March 15 at 5 p.m. CST.
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