Cowboys Set For ASC Crossover Series

Game Notes

ABILENE, Texas — This marks the fifth year the American Southwest Conference has had a two-week Championship in baseball and for the third time in those five years Hardin-Simmons and Texas-Dallas will play in the ASC Championship Series, with first pitch slated for 6 p.m. on Friday.

The two teams have each won one of the previous series between the two teams with the Cowboys winning in 2005 in Abilene and UTD winning in Richardson in 2007. The teams have also split a pair of games this year with the Cowboys winning 4-3 in Richardson and the Comets winning 11-9 in Abilene on April 14.

HSU comes in with a record of 24-16 and the Cowboys are the second seed in the ASC West. Texas-Dallas is 25-15 and they are the three seed out of the ASC West. The winner of the three-game series advances to the ASC Championship Tournament next weekend at the site of the highest remaining ASC East Division school.

The series on paper appears to be one that will have plenty of offense as both teams average over eight runs per game and they rank No. 1 and No. 3 in the nation in home runs. UTD has hit 72 home runs to lead Division III and HSU has belted a school-record 56 home runs. The wind is expected to blow out of the south at 20-30 MPH, making John J. Hunter Field a hitter’s friendly park.

Hardin-Simmons will send junior righthander Tim Kriegel to the mound for the first game. Kriegel has a record of 6-4 with a 4.01 ERA. He has had good success against the Comets in his career as he has not allowed a run in five and one-third innings of work, all out of the bullpen. Drew Waggoner (4-4, 6.37) is the likely starter for UTD.

Cody Ross leads the Comets at the plate with a .429 average. He has also hit 14 home runs and driven in 58 runs. Jared Smith leads the league with 19 home runs and 63RBIs. The Cowboys counter with seven regulars that hit .338 or better. Regan Dixon leads the team with 14 home runs and 48 RBIs. J.T. Armstrong is hitting .373 with eight home runs and 38 RBIs.

The series will conclude on Saturday with the first game slated for 2 p.m. If a third game is needed, it will follow 30 minutes after the first game. Tickets for each day are $5 for adults and $3 for students.


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