Baseball jumps out to 6-0 amid three-game sweep of Sul Ross State University; Thornton's two-run ninth-inning blast lifts Crusaders past Lobos, 9-8
ALPINE, Texas - The University of Dallas baseball team (6-0) remains unbeaten on the season, after claiming a hard fought 9-8 victory and a three-game sweep of Sul Ross State University (SRSU) on Sunday afternoon.
Dallas boasted a four-run top of the first inning, behind a three-run home-run by 5-foot-11 junior third baseman Trevor Allred (Anchorage, Alaska/South Anchorage H.S.). It was Allred's third time to leave the yard on the early season.
After SRSU (1-7) put a run on the board in the bottom of the first, the Crusaders answered with a score in the top of the second, as a single by 5-foot-9 freshman shortstop Nolan Kipp (Folsom, Calif./Christian Brothers H.S.) brought in 6-foot senior center fielder Brian Shelburne (Portsmouth, R.I./Portsmouth H.S.).
Kipp and 5-foot-10 designated hitter Nico Caluda (New Orleans, La./Jesuit H.S.) each tallied three hits on the day.
6-foot-2 junior left-handed pitcher Chris Schierhorn (Anchorage, Alaska/South Anchorage H.S.) was plugging along just fine until the bottom of the third inning, when the Lobos tagged the southpaw for four runs on four hits and an error. After four innings, the score was 5-5.
In four innings on the hill, Schierhorn surrendered five runs (two earned) on seven hits and a walk, while retiring four SRSU batters. Schierhorn was relieved by 6-foot-2 senior left-hander Michael Schweiss (Parker, Colo./Chaparral H.S.), who pitched the remainder of the game.
Trailing 7-6 entering the top-half of the eighth, the Crusaders were able to tie the game in the inning thanks to a single by 6-foot junior right fielder Adam Farris (Flower Mound, Texas/Liberty Christian H.S.), which scored Allred.
Farris hit .500 (5-for-10) on the weekend, netting a home-run and eight RBI, while scoring three runs.
6-foot sophomore left fielder Alex Thornton (Fort Worth, Texas/Arlington Heights H.S.) played hero on this day, delivering a two-run home-run in the top of the ninth to score 6-foot-2 freshman catcher Luciano Villanueva (San Antonio, Texas/Antonian College Prep.), who led off the inning with a single to right field.
Entering the bottom of the ninth with a 9-7 lead, Schweiss (2-0) helped the Crusaders remain unscathed, despite the Lobos threatening with a score on two hits in the inning.
Over the course of five innings, Schweiss allowed three runs (all earned) on six hits and two walks, while striking-out five en route to a 9-8 Dallas victory.
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