PREVIEW: Baseball vs. Howard Payne (3/4 DH) | (3/5)
MULTIMEDIA COVERAGE
(Games 1&2 Saturday)
No film due to other events and possible poor weather during late afternoon.
(Game 3 Sunday)
SOCIAL MEDIA
UD Twitter: @UDallasSports
UD Baseball Twitter: @UDallasBaseball
Facebook: University of Dallas Athletics
Instagram: udallasathletics
FIRST PITCH
The University of Dallas baseball teams is back at Crusader Field for the first time since early February and will start a nine-game home stretch on March 4-5. The three-game series with Howard Payne University features a twinbill on Saturday starting at 12 p.m. On Sunday, the teams rescheduled the first pitch back an hour at 2 p.m.
The Crusaders are on a five-game losing slide at the moment, having dropped their most recent pair on Tuesday at East Texas Baptist University. After being walked off on in seven innings 7-6, UD was topped by six runs (7-1) in the nightcap.
UD NOTES
- Seth Hanson (Apache Junction, Ariz.) kept his 10-game on base streak alive on Tuesday with his first collegiate homers in each contest. He moved to a tie for 2nd in the conference for total bombs and continues to lead the squad in hitting (.364).
- Behind Hanson's team-high 12 hits is JP Fasone (Englewood, Colo.) with 10. He has scored a team-best six runs and is 3-of-4 in stolen bags.
- Luke Boylson (Fairview, Texas) rounds out the top trio of hitters with nine, but has been on a tear recently with eight coming from four-of-five past games. He was hitless in second ETBU contest, but went a perfect 3-for-3 with his first collegiate home run and two runs scored in the opener.
- Jordan Stickler (Grand Rapids, Mich.) has been a threat on the base paths snatching five steals in six opportunities. The Crusaders are 14-of-22 in steals this year.
- Ryan Hammonds (Cedar Hill, Texas) anchors the pitching staff. In three starts this year, Hammonds has thrown seven in each for 21 overall (8th SCAC). The ace ranks top three in league for opponent batting average (.178) and is tied 6th in strikeouts with 19.
- William Marshall (Frisco, Texas) has produced a 2.70 ERA through 6.2 innings and four appearances. He is 1-0 and has a save so far.
- Conrad Voss (Corona, Calif.) expects to start and ranks 2nd on team in innings thrown (15.2).
- Cole Morden (Arlington, Texas) has been stellar in relief with another pair of scoreless frames in the one-run setback against the Tigers. His overall ERA in five innings is 1.80.
- In the Crusaders lone series at home, Sul Ross State won two-of-three with both coming in the final two.
- Against American Southwest Conference (ASC) foes, Dallas is 3-4 with the Jackets being the second straight team this week from that conference faced.
SCOUTING HOWARD PAYNE
- The Jackets are 6-6 overall and have won their last two games.
- Overall are 3-4 on opponent fields and 5-4 away from the friendly confines.
- Howard Payne has played five contests against SCAC opponents (3-2), including the most recent two triumphs at home versus Austin College. Game one went eight innings (2-1) and the latter matchup was a shutout (4-0).
- The road series kicks off a six-game road stint over the next two weekends.
- Noah Payne leads Howard Payne in hits (17) and has contributed six RBI, nine runs scored, and a near .500 batting average (.459).
- Brett Quackenbush (12) and David Groves (10) are also double-digit hitters and each have driven in seven runs. Cliff Lunceford rounds out the quartet of batters at 10 or beyond with the minimal mark and has scored a team-high in runs (12).
- Quackenbush leads the way in doubles (5) and Joshua Gerig follows with four two-baggers. Gerig is the leader in run production with eight.
- On the mound, Seth Owen and Jonathan George each have started all three games. Owen has fanned a team-high 12, and spun a 4.38 ERA in a team-most 12.1 innings.
- Matthew Parks has the lowest ERA among starters (3.97) and is second in innings with 11.1.
- Zach Moseley has converted three saves in four appearances.
- Dallas is 13-17 versus the Jackets in the all-time series.
- The most recent matchup in Irving between these programs was April 18, 2012, where UD won 4-3.
- Between these home games was seven road contests in 2013-15 and the home team earning a 6-1 mark.
- The squads last played two games on March 10 in 2015 and Howard Payne swept 6-2 and 8-4.
- In the first game, Blake Palmer (Coppell, Texas) had a good outing in relief with 2.2 innings and a run allowed. He fanned four which tied a career-high also done in that season.
UPCOMING TEAMS
A local foe in Dallas Christian College visits on March 7 at 3 p.m. for a single game. After that, the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) play begins on Mar. 11-12 with Texas Lutheran University. Finally, the homestand is over with a non-conference opponent in Millikin University coming on Mar. 15 for a doubleheader.