ABILENE, Texas – The Celts split a doubleheader with Hardin-Simmons on Saturday afternoon at Hunter Field, falling 5-4 in the nightcap after securing a 6-3 victory in the first game. The split gave UST their first win of the season and an overall record of 1-2 heading into conference play.

Game 1: UST 6, HSU 3

The Celts came out strong in the first game, building a 5-0 lead by the third inning. The offense was firing on all cylinders early, capitalizing on key opportunities to put pressure on the Cowboys. Hardin-Simmons chipped away at the lead, scoring two runs in the fifth and another in the sixth, but UST added an insurance run in the seventh to secure the win.

Brian Craig earned the win on the mound for the Celts, delivering a solid performance, while Jacob Mead closed out the game with a save. Alex Carte was also impressive, allowing just three earned runs over six innings of work. Jack Kimsey made his collegiate debut in the seventh, helping seal the victory.

Game 2:  HSU 5, UST 4

The nightcap was a tightly contested battle, with both starting pitchers locked in early. The Celts struck first in the fourth inning, scoring on a double, groundout, and wild pitch to take a 1-0 lead. However, Hardin-Simmons responded with a solo home run by Quincy McGraw in the bottom of the inning to tie the game.

The turning point came in the fifth inning when Hardin-Simmons' Jake Trapani launched a three-run home run to give the Cowboys a 4-1 lead. They extended their advantage to 5-1 in the sixth with a daring steal of home by Baylan Vaughan.

St. Thomas fought back in the late innings, scoring a run in the seventh , and added two more run in the eighth. The Celts threatened again in the ninth, putting runners on the corners with no outs, but a double play and a clutch defensive play by Hardin-Simmons ended the rally and sealed the 5-4 win for the Cowboys.

Up Next

The Celts will now turn their attention to conference play as they travel to Georgetown to take on Southwestern in a three-game series. The series begins on Friday, February 21, and continues through Sunday, February 23. Follow all the action and updates by following @USTCeltbaseball on Instagram.