Baseball runs by East Texas Baptist University, sweeps Tigers on the season
MARSHALL, Texas - The University of Dallas baseball team (23-11) has staked claim on their fourth season series victory, after defeating East Texas Baptist University (ETBU), 7-4, on Tuesday evening.
In their first meeting of 2011, Dallas won 15-1 over the Tigers on April 6. With Tuesday's triumph over ETBU, the Crusaders have taken the season series, 2-0.
It was a rough 1st inning for the Crusaders, despite junior left-fielder Devin Arnold (McKinney, Texas/McKinney H.S.) scoring the game's first run, giving sophomore third baseman Trevor Allred (Anchorage, Alaska/South Anchorage H.S.) the sacrifice RBI. Of note, Arnold stole two bases before scoring, increasing his team-leading total to 29 stolen bases.
Right-handed pitcher Philip Carkhuff (Marietta, Ga./The Lovett School) was pegged the starter versus the Tigers, and the senior sought not to repeat a losing bid from his last game, where Austin College chased the veteran in the 1st inning.
Carkhuff and the Crusader defense were a little shaky early on, as ETBU countered Dallas' 1st inning score, with three runs of their own (two earned) in the bottom-half of the inning.
The veteran pitcher settled in, however, allowing just one more earned run -- ETBU's final run was scored in the 4th inning -- to the Tiger hitters, before seeing his day come to an end after 6.1 innings of work. Carkhuff's stat-line for the game included a 'no decision' five-hit effort against ETBU. He also struck-out four batters and walked three.
Right-handed pitcher Michael Schweiss (Parker, Colo./Chaparral H.S.) entered the game in relief of Carkhuff in the 6th inning, and the junior was successful in his quest to give Dallas a chance to claw back into the contest. He held ETBU to one hit, while striking-out three in nine batters faced.
The offense delivered for Schweiss (8-1), as the Dallas bats awoke from their slumber in the game's final three innings, making him the winning pitcher on record.
The aforementioned Arnold cut the ETBU lead to two runs, with a two-out home run in the top-half of the 7th inning.
Trailing 4-2, the Crusaders leveled the score at four apiece in the 8th inning. Recently named 'Player of the Week' by two governing bodies, freshman first baseman Andrew Bossert (Friendswood, Texas/Friendswood H.S.) spear-headed the Dallas rally by drawing a one-out walk. Right fielder Adam Farris (Flower Mound, Texas/Liberty Christian H.S.) then helped advance Bossert to third base, after doubling. With two runners in scoring position, senior shortstop David Rettinger (San Antonio, Texas/Central Catholic H.S.) came through in a big way with a deep sacrifice fly to right field, which brought home Bossert and Farris.
Center fielder Brian Shelburne (Portsmouth, R.I./Portsmouth H.S.) played hero for Dallas. After two errors and an intentional-walk loaded the bases for the team-leader in batting average (.347), the junior singled to center field, bringing in two runs -- the new score was 6-4, Crusaders. A wild pitch allowed Shelburne to score Dallas' final run en route to a 7-4 victory.
Next opponent:
The Crusaders have their eyes on a potential postseason birth and yet another Tiger team, as the Trinity University Tigers (29-9) roll into town for a weekend two-game series with the Crusaders. First pitch is 2:00 p.m. for Saturday's single nine-inning game, while the same holds true for Sunday, which will be 'Senior Day' for Dallas in their final home game of the 2011 season.
For those unable to make it out to Crusader Field, both games will be streamed online via collegetvticket.com for your viewing entertainment.