Baseball runs past Arlington Baptist College, 12-1, at Rangers' Ballpark in Arlington; Byers records win No. 5, while Caluda has 3 RBI performance

ARLINGTON, Texas - The University of Dallas baseball team (12-8, 3-5 SCAC) snapped a four game losing-skid by taking down Arlington Baptist College, 12-1, in nine innings on Thursday evening at Rangers' Ballpark in Arlington.

With offense at a premium, early, the Crusaders backed the strong pitching of 6-foot-2 senior right-handed starter Michael Schweiss (Parker, Colo./Chaparral H.S.) with the game's first run, a second-inning score.

Proving to be the only score in the first four innings, 6-foot-4 sophomore first baseman crossed home-plate all the way from first, when 5-foot-10 junior right fielder Nico Caluda (New Orleans, La./Jesuit H.S.) smashed a double into right-center.

Reminiscent of the Ron Washington coached American League Champion Texas Rangers on the base paths, Dallas distanced themselves from Arlington Baptist in the top-of-the-fifth, scoring seven runs in the inning with tactful and well-executed base running.

To the chagrin of Arlington Baptist, 5-foot-9 senior catcher Varea Costello (Anchorage, Alaska/South Anchorage H.S.) produced a two RBI squeeze-play with a sacrifice-bunt fielded by starting pitcher Jonny Hurst, scoring Caluda and 6-foot junior designated hitter Adam Farris (Flower Mound, Texas/Liberty Christian H.S.) in the process.

Dallas was not done with their bag of tricks. Later in the inning, 6-foot-1 senior left fielder Devin Arnold (McKinney, Texas/McKinney H.S.) slid head-first into home-plate in a bang-bang play to beat Hurst's delivery home, while 6-foot senior center fielder Brian Shelburne (Portsmouth, R.I./Portsmouth H.S.) and 6-foot sophomore second baseman Mark Carlson (Hawthorn Woods, Ill./Home School) each advanced on the play, meaning a successful triple-steal.

Caluda added two RBIs for good measure with his single to right-center, which scored Bossert and 5-foot-11 junior third baseman Trevor Allred (Anchorage, Alaska/South Anchorage H.S.). When the dust settled, Dallas had totalled seven runs in the busy top-of-the-fifth.

Schweiss exited the game after pitching four scoreless innings for head coach Fraser Holmes' squad. In his time on the bump for Dallas, Schweiss allowed five hits, while striking-out three Patriot batters.

In his stead, stepped 5-foot-11 junior righty Michael Byers (Front Royal, Va./Seton Home School). Pitching the fifth and sixth innings, Byers (5-1) became the winning pitcher of record. In two innings on the mound, Byers struck-out one, while surrendering just one hit.  

Dallas added four insurance runs in the top-of-the-ninth for 6-foot-2 right-handed pitcher Luciano Villanueva (San Antonio, Texas/Antonian College Prep.), who pitched the eighth and ninth innings in relief of Bossert (seventh).

The Crusaders had 12 hits on the game to the Patriots' nine. Arlington Baptist made four errors, while Dallas totalled zero. Additionally, there were a combined 10 hit-by-pitches, with seven of those belonging to the Patriot pitchers.

Next opponent:

Dallas will take to Crusader Field on Wednesday, Mar. 21, as Texas Wesleyan comes to town for a 3 p.m. first pitch. The Crusaders look to pay back the Rams for a 6-3 (F/9) Mar. 11 loss, which was suffered at historic LaGrave Field in Fort Worth, Texas.