Box Score
ABILENE, Texas - The Wildcats baseball team got off to an auspicious start in their quest for an American Southwest Conference title, falling 13-3 to Hardin-Simmons in the first of a best-of-three series with Cowboys.

The game was stopped after eight innings due to the 10-run, mercy rule.

LC might be down, but is not out and can advance to the double-elimination conference tournament next week with a two-game sweep of Hardin-Simmons Saturday beginning at 2 p.m.

Freshman pitcher Anthony VanGessel (Tioga, La./Tioga High) took the loss, pitching 5 2/3 innings and giving up eight earned runs on 13 hits while striking out four and walking one.

The Wildcats struggled to keep pace on the scoreboard with Hardin-Simmons, but did have several players post solid performances at the plate.

Cody Laprarie (Dry Prong, La./Grant High) went 1-for-5 with a run scored and two RBI while Walt Mcgee (Pineville, La./Pineville High) and Anthony Benoit (Baton Rouge, La./St. Michael's) each went 2-for-4.

Jonathan Ettinger (Vicksburg, Miss./Warren Central) went 1-for-3 with an RBI and Brandt Daigle (Alexandria, La./Alexandria Senior High) went 1-for-4 with a run scored.