(Story courtesy of Hendrix College)
CONWAY, Ark. - Hendrix College head baseball coach R.J. Thomas won his 100th career game on Sunday as the Warriors defeated Southwestern University 11-1 in seven innings at Warrior Field. Thomas, in his sixth season at the helm, now trails Jim Holland by three victories for the most wins in program history.
With the win, the Warriors improve to 14-6 overall and 6-2 in
Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play. Hendrix has also won
11 of their last 12 games and stay perfect at home with an 8-0
record. The Pirates fall to 6-17 overall and 2-6 in the league.
Senior second baseman Clark Sims led the bottom of the first off
with a triple and senior first baseman Mark Vlaskamp singled Sims
in to give the Warriors an early 1-0 lead. With one out in the
second, sophomore left fielder J.T. Bowen reached on infield single
and scored on a double by freshman center fielder Matt Simmons.
Freshman shortstop Brady Newville, making his first collegiate
start, followed with a hit through the right side. Senior third
baseman Kyle Raskin plated Simmons and Newville with a triple,
putting Hendrix up 4-0. The Warriors added another run in the frame
when senior catcher Andrew Thames was hit by a pitch with the bases
loaded.
Bowen led off the fifth with a triple over the center fielder's
head and Simmons drove Bowen in with a sacrifice fly. Newville,
Sims and Vlaskamp each walked to load the bases with two outs.
Radack then hit an infield single that was misplayed by SU's
shortstop, leading to two more runs scoring.
The Pirates scored a run in the top of the sixth when third baseman
Nate Shipp lead off with a triple and scored on a base hit by first
baseman Jeff Glasgow.
In the bottom of the seventh, Sims, Vlaskamp and Thames were each
hit by reliever Max Smith to load the bases. Sims scored from third
on a passed ball and sophomore left fielder Austin Womack drove in
pinch runners Geoff Lomax and Jacob Perschke with a single to
center field, invoking the run-rule.
Sims reached base five times with a hit, three walks and a hit by
pitch to go with four runs scored. Bowen went 2-for-3 with a triple
and Newville was 2-for-3 with a pair of runs.
Warrior sophomore starter Thomas Weber left the game early with an
elbow injury after throwing 4.2 innings and giving up just three
hits a walk and two strikeouts. Freshman Nino Tutino (1-1) picked
up his first win with three strikeouts and allowing three hits and
a run. Pirate starter Chris Webber (1-3) lasted 4.2 innings and
gave up eight runs, seven earned runs four walks and three
strikeouts.
Hendrix will take to the road for a two-game non-conference series
at Birmingham-Southern beginning Tuesday.
