SEGUIN, Texas -- Southwestern jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning and never let Texas Lutheran back into the game in an 8-1 conference win for the Pirates Friday night at TLU's Katt-Isbel Field.

Southwestern improved to 19-18 overall and to 8-8 in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference. The Pirates clinched the final spot in the upcoming SCAC Baseball Championship with the victory.

TLU, already assured of a conference tournament berth, dropped to 20-16 overall and to 11-5 in the SCAC.

Collin Buckley tossed three innings in relief of starter Bryce Sinclair, who tossed three innings and allowed only one hit. Buckley collected the win and moved to 3-0.

Nathan Malinovsky took the loss for TLU. The redshirt sophomore right-hander went 6-1/3 innings, struck out three, walked four and allowed four earned runs.

Kevin Wallace homered and had two RBI for the Pirates. Colby Schmidt, Ben Little and Wallace each scored twice.

Pinch-hitter Keaton Boysen had the lone RBI for TLU. Boysen delivered a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning to cut the Southwestern lead to 4-1.

The Pirates responded with a four-run seventh to put the game essentially out of reach.

TLU finished the night with just five hits. The Bulldogs had only three hits entering the ninth.

TLU and Southwestern play a 1 p.m. doubleheader Saturday at Katt-Isbel Field. TLU will have live video and live stats on tlubulldogs.com.