HOUSTON – The Celts of the University of St. Thomas made the most of their first home game in more than a month Friday as they defeated Austin College 8-6 to open a three-game series.

At Husky Field on the campus of Houston Baptist University, UST's Landon Murray struck out six batters over seven innings and allowed only three earned runs to lead the Celts (9-11, 3-1 SCAC) to their seventh win in their last eight games. 

The Celts and the Kangaroos (5-13, 1-3 SCAC) exchanged two-run frames early in the game before UST pulled away from their guests with four unanswered runs in the middle innings. Israel Fields' two-RBI double in the bottom of the seventh gave the Celts a four-run lead and put the game out of reach despite an eighth-inning rally by Austin College.

Dylan Lamb hit a two-RBI for the Celts in the bottom of the first inning to tie the score at 2-2. Tristan Pitkin collected two hits in the game.

Myles Simmons pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for the Celts to earn his second save of the season.

The game was the Celts' first home game since Feb. 12 and 13, when they contested a pair of doubleheaders against Houston–Victoria. Friday's game against Austin College was also the first this season for the Celts in Houston and Harris County, as their games against UHV were played at the John Cooper School in the Woodlands. 

The Celts conclude their Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference series against Austin College with a doubleheader Saturday at HBU's Husky Field. The first pitch Saturday is scheduled for noon.