CONWAY, Ark. - The Hendrix College baseball team lost two games to #7 Birmingham-Southern College in Southern Athletic Association action at Warrior Field Saturday afternoon. The Panthers (18-5, 7-1) took game one 8-7, then defeated the Warriors (8-15, 3-5) in game two.

In the opener, Hendrix took a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first when junior right fielder Matthew Lillard hit a grand slam over the fence in the right field corner. They went up 5-0 in the second when sophomore second baseman Tanner Cooper led off with a single, was bunted over by sophomore third baseman Dylan Bowers. Cooper scored on a Drew Judson single up the middle.

In the fourth, Cooper hit a solo home run down the right field line to put the Orange & Black up 6-0. Judson led the fifth off with a triple to right center and was knocked on base hit from sophomore first baseman Josh Walker.

BSC scored a run in the sixth when center fielder Sam Roberts knocked in shortstop David Scott with a base hit. They tied the game with a six-run seventh inning on six hits and an error. Roberts hit a two-run base hit in the frame.

The Panthers won the game in the top of the ninth when first baseman Tyler Hamel reached on a fielder's choice, moved to second on an error and scored on a double from right fielder Preston White.

Reliever Rich Misischia (2-0) earned the win by striking out two in two perfect innings. Senior Connor Nelson (0-2) took the loss for Hendrix, allowing two hits, a run and striking out one in 2.1 innings or relief.

Hendrix Game 1 Notes
- Lillard drove in four runs with his first career home run.
- Judson went 3-for-4 with two runs scored, a RBI and a triple.
- Cooper went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and the homer.
- Walker drove in a run with a base hit, scored and was hit by a pitch.
- Leon also recorded a hit.

Birmingham-Southern Game 1 Notes
- Roberts drove in three runs and went 2-for-4 with a run scored.
- Catcher A.J. Hunt was 3-for-4 with a run scored.
- White recorded two doubles and two runs batted in.
- Misischia went 2-for-5 with a run scored and RBI.
- Scott was also 2-for-5 with a pair of runs scored and a stolen base.
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In game two, Panther starter Stephen Himic (6-0) threw a eight-hit, two-strikeout shutout over seven frames. Junior Colin Brown (3-3) allowed nine hits, two earned runs, two walks and fanned two over six innings in the loss.

BSC scored a run in the second when second baseman Jacob Drescher reached on an error and scored on a base hit by third baseman Will Toner. They tacked on another run in the fifth when Toner led off with a base hit and scored on a Roberts base hit. The Panthers scored the final run of the game in the sixth on a Toner triple that scored Hunt.

Hendrix Game 2 Notes
- Leon went 3-for-4 with two doubles.
- Cooper went 3-for-3.
- Judson and Lillard also recorded a hit.

Birmingham-Southern Game 2 Notes
- Toner went 3-for-3 with two RBI, a triple and a run scored.
- Misisichia was 2-for-3 as was Hunt.
- Roberts drove in a run and recorded two hits.

Up Next
Hendrix and BSC will complete the series at noon Sunday.