ABILENE, Texas-- St. Thomas baseball team opened the season with a hard-fought battle on the road Friday afternoon, coming up just short in a 9–7 loss to Hardin-Simmons in Abilene. Despite an early deficit, the Celts showed grit and resilience, mounting a dramatic late comeback attempt in the ninth inning. With the result, UST begins the season at 0–1.

St. Thomas made an immediate impact in the top of the first inning, jumping out to an early lead. Jon Torres crossed the plate on an RBI groundout from Sam Lampson before Gage Kimble followed with an RBI single through the left side to give the Celts a 2–0 advantage.

Hardin-Simmons responded in the bottom of the inning with a series of extra-base hits to take control and build a 7–2 lead after one. The Cowboys added two more runs in the third to extend their advantage to 9–2.

The Celts continued to battle and kept pressure on the Cowboys throughout the afternoon, setting the stage for a strong finish. In the ninth inning, UST mounted an impressive rally as Miguel Acosta lifted a sacrifice fly to center field to bring home a run. Jon Torres then delivered a clutch triple to left center, clearing the bases and cutting the deficit to 9–6. Lampson followed with a sharp RBI single down the left-field line to make it a two-run game.

With the tying run at the plate, the Celts threatened to complete the comeback, but Hardin-Simmons was able to hold on and secure the win. The late surge highlighted UST's offensive depth and competitive edge as the season got underway.

Up Next

St. Thomas will look to bounce back on Saturday as the Celts continue the series against Hardin-Simmons with a doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m., followed by a 3 p.m. game, as UST aims to even the series and build on the momentum from the season opener.