Crusaders allow 7th inning Walk-off; Fall in Two games at ETBU Tuesday
MARSHALL, Texas – The University of Dallas Baseball team dropped two games to conclude an eight-game stretch away from its home field on Tuesday at East Texas Baptist University. The Crusaders have now fallen in their last five games. After a difficult 7-6 final in game one that was only scheduled seven innings, the road team was swept on the afternoon in a 7-1 result.
GAME ONE INFORMATION
Team Scores: University of Dallas (6), East Texas Baptist University (7) (F/7 innings)
Team Records: Dallas (4-6), ETBU (7-4)
Pitcher of Record: W) Penny (1-0), L) Palmer (0-2)
NOTABLE STATISTICS
- The Crusaders matched a season-most six runs.
- Luke Boylson (Fairview, Texas) continued his recent tear at the plate with a perfect day (3-for-3) including a walk.
- Boylson and Seth Hanson (Apache Junction, Ariz.) both went yard for a home run apiece.
- JP Fasone (Englewood, Colo.) added a multi-hit game with two and also walked.
- Jordan Stickler (Grand Rapids, Mich.) came off the bench and drew free passes in each. He and Josh Abalos (Lewisville, Texas) accounted for both UD steals.
- Zachary Taylor (Humble, Texas) made his first start of his career and threw three innings. He allowed five runs on six hits and struck out one.
- Cole Morden (Arlington, Texas) tossed two scoreless relief frames.
- Zach Gartner had a game-high four hits (4-4) and drove in four, which included the game-winning RBI. He homered twice and doubled.
- Other Tigers with extra base hits were Landon Barns (2B) and Josh Warbington (HR).
- Garrett Penny was awarded the win after 2.1 innings of relief for Kameron Sumrall. Penny allowed a run on two hits. He walked one and fanned two.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Known for being a park that sees balls leave the yard, the Crusaders displayed that early on with back-to-back homers from Hanson and Boylson and one gone to start the first. It was the first collegiate dinger for each player.
Dallas added to its early advantage with another run in the second inning, as Abalos reached on an error that allowed Nathan Patton (McKinney, Texas) to score. Patton had earlier walked with an out and moved to second on an error with Colby Davenport (Crockett, Texas) batting. The centerfielder singled in the infield at second to put runners on the corner for Abalos. After the run scoring play, Abalos advanced into scoring position on his steal and Fasone walked to lad the bases. A strikeout-throwout at home caught an aggressive Davenport and left the bases stranded.
The home team gained a run back in the bottom of the 2nd with ETBU's best hitter of the game homering to left center to start the new frame. From there, the Tigers etched five unanswered with the rest occurring in the third inning. A one-out double from Barns scored Jaxon Rader who had singled and stole second right before. Zach Compton singled to left and knotted the contest. Gartner followed again with another blast to left center, but this time a runner was on base.
Down 5-3, the Crusaders struck back to even the game in the fifth inning. With two outs, consecutive walks to Boylson and Stickler loaded the bases. Mark Peterson (Cincinnati, Ohio) struck out swinging but reached on a wild pitch and Fasone scored. With Paul Scioli (Lubbock, Texas) batting, a wild pitch allowed the juiced bases to advance 90 feet and Boylson tied the game at 5. Scioli was plunked and that ended the day for ETBU's starter Sumrall. Penny got a strikeout to end the UD threat.
In the 6th inning the teams traded runs as Fasone singled to right center to send in Davenport, who was hit and moved to third in a sacrifice bunt. The Tigers countered right back in the bottom of the inning on a homer by Warbington to left.
The Crusaders were able to get Stickler to third with one out in the 7th, but failed to get him in. With a scheduled seven innings on game one set, the Tigers just needed a run to walk-off, and succeeded as a hot hitting Gartner doubled to right center. Connor Combs, who drew a one-out walk from Blake Palmer (Coppell, Texas); scored the game winner. Palmer was saddled with the loss for Dallas. William Bresnahan (Windham, N.H.) had entered after Combs free pass, and prompted to walk Compton before the two-bagger to Gartner.
GAME TWO INFORMATION
Team Scores: University of Dallas (1), East Texas Baptist University (7)
Team Records: Dallas (4-7), ETBU (8-4)
Pitcher of Record: W) Pierce (1-0) L) Gamez (0-1)
NOTABLE STATISTICS
- There were a combined nine hits and both teams played errorless.
- Hanson continued his on-base streak at 10 games and tied a season-long, four-game hitting streak. Part of his 2-for-4 game was another dinger for the visitors' only run.
- Stickler and Abalos also recorded knocks.
- Kyle Gamez (Burleson, Texas) drew the start and allowed three runs and hits through 2.1 innings. He walked and struck out a pair. Eric Felchak (The Woodlands, Texas) tossed 2.2 shutout innings and fanned three. Austin Offutt (Frisco, Texas) added a scoreless frame.
- Offutt and Dan Goehring (Phoenix, Ariz.) each made their 2nd appearance in the past four games and debut years. Goehring fanned four to give the Dallas arms nine strikeouts.
- However, the Crusaders' staff matched that number with a season-high in walks. They also threw five wild pitches.
- Casey Combs had a big game in the nightcap with a 3-for-3 and four ribbies. He doubled twice and Warbington added a double for the other extra base knock. Even Gartner tallied a hit after his phenomenal first game.
- Zackery Pierce earned the win going five innings in relief. He allowed just a run on the Hanson homer, walked two and struck out two.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Tigers utilized two huge innings for all their scoring necessary to win their sixth straight. One of those frames was in the second. A one-out double down the left field line plated a pair in Gartner and Compton. Warbington went back-to-back with a double of his own in the same location to bring Casey Combs in.
It was quiet offensively for the guests until the team's leading hitter pounded his second home run in as many games to left center and ended the shutout bid.
Things unraveled for UD in the seventh inning, as four runs came but only the two-out single for a pair of RBI by Combs was the lone knock that entire frame.
UP NEXT
Dallas is home for the first time in a month and begins a nine-game stretch there. The long home stand begins with a three-game set versus Howard Payne University on March 4. That day a doubleheader is planned to begin at 12 p.m.