Quick Start goes Comets' Favor against Baseball on Tuesday
RICHARDSON, Texas – The University of Dallas baseball team fell on Tuesday by a final score of 9-4 at cross-town rival, University of Texas at Dallas. The non-conference setback comes a week after the Comets prevailed 9-3 in Irving, Texas.
GAME INFORMATION
Team Scores: University of Dallas (4), University of Texas at Dallas (9)
Team Records: Dallas (9-25), UT-Dallas (17-12)
Pitcher Records: W) Hanson (1-0), L) Hammonds (2-3)
HOW IT HAPPENED
A week ago, UT-Dallas scored all its runs in the final three innings. This late afternoon, it was a five-run first inning and seven runs through the first nine outs that propelled the Comets' offense. The big opening frame began with two singles and a sacrifice flyout by Brandon George to cut a then 2-0 deficit in half. Two errors by Dallas aided the home squad, as four runs were unearned.
The Crusaders did strike first with a pair of runs in their first turn to bat. Freshman Paul Scioli (Lubbock, Texas) and senior Luciano Villanueva (San Antonio, Texas) reached on walks and had separate stolen bases to get into scoring position. With two outs, freshman Mark Peterson (Cincinnati, Ohio) drew the third walk of the inning, and classmate Mark Resnick (Houston, Texas) drove in two with a double to right center for the first hit of the contest.
It was a familiar scene to last week as UD carried a 2-0 edge and a half-inning later would allow five runs to the Comets. Through three innings, the deficit increased to five runs (7-2). Junior Blake Palmer (Coppell, Texas) did enter the third with no outs, bases loaded, and a run already in. Two strikeouts and a ground out got Palmer and the Crusaders back to the dugout three batters later.
The Resnick knock was the lone hit for Dallas until the sixth inning when Villanueva singled up the middle to start the frame. Freshman Jake McCoy (Fort Worth, Texas) singled down the left field line on the next at-bat to put two on with no outs. A double play snuffed a potential rally, but sophomore Cole Wessling (Denton, Texas) tripled to score Villanueva. Wessling's first at-bat of the night sailed over the centerfielder's head.
After the Comets went down in order the next half inning, sophomore Derek Valiska (Bastrop, Texas) led off the seventh with his first collegiate homer to opposite field in right. At the time, Dallas trailed 8-4.
An error by UTD's first baseman kept the inning alive for the Crusaders and placed the runners at the corners. After a pitching change, the Navy and White attempted a double steal, but a fake throw down left Scioli caught at home and ended the threat.
INSIDE THE BOX
- Dallas was outhit 13-6.
- Villanueva scored two runs. He and Scioli each reached twice via a walk and base knock.
- Hitters 2-7 in the lineup reached base for Dallas.
- Resnick's double is his fourth and matches the club-lead with two other players. Wessling's and Valiska's extra-base knocks were their firsts of the season.
- Junior Ryan Hammonds (Cedar Hill, Texas) made his first start since March 5 and pitched 0.2 innings. Four pitchers combined above an inning of relief the remainder with Palmer going a team-long 2.2 innings.
- UTD committed three errors as the team's combined for five overall.
- Ryan Burciaga led the offense with a 3-for-4 day, two runs scored, and an RBI. He smacked one of the team's trio of doubles. David McKenzie and George added the other two-baggers.
- Jimmy Norris was one of three other Comets with multiple hits and scored a game-high three runs.
- Eight arms combined for the nine innings of work for the UTD pitching staff. Reid Boeselt went two complete innings for the longest amount of work on the bump.
UP NEXT
Dallas is at Southwestern University this weekend.