SERIES PREVIEW: Baseball at Austin College (3/18-3/19)
MULTIMEDIA COVERAGE
Livestats (Game 1, Game 2, Game 3)
SOCIAL MEDIA
UD Twitter: @UDallasSports
UD Baseball Twitter: @UDallasBaseball
Facebook: University of Dallas Athletics
Instagram: udallasathletics
FIRST PITCH
The University of Dallas baseball team resumes conference play this weekend at Austin College. A doubleheader starts things Saturday and then the three-game set concludes Sunday. Both start times are at 1 p.m. Dallas is 7-13 overall and 1-2 in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) play after dropping the last two this previous Sunday versus Texas Lutheran University.
Dallas is coming off a pair of setbacks (3-1 (7 innings) and 13-0) on Wednesday against Millikin University in non-conference action. That ended a nine-game home stretch but now the Crusaders will play 10-of-11 on the road next, which includes the next three weekends in a row.
UD NOTES
- Seth Hanson (Apache Junction, Ariz.) is the top hitter on the squad with a .356 batting average. He surpassed 21 knocks and has four doubles, three homers, and 15 runs batted in to be among the top for each category.
- Mark Peterson (Cincinnati, Ohio) has been following behind in the power department with three long balls to tie him for 3rd in the league. He has also cracked double-digits in ribbies with 11. Hanson and he are the only two players in double figures.
- Nathan Patton (McKinney, Texas) is the next closest in run production with eight. He rounds out the top three hitters with a .255 average and has 14 knocks.
- JP Fasone (Englewood, Colo.) and Jordan Stickler (Grand Rapids, Mich.) are the top two hitters in the lineup most of the time and are tied second on UD in base hits with 16 each.
- Stickler has etched team-highs in runs scored (15) and stolen bases (10) along with a .286 batting average.
- On the bump, Ryan Hammonds (Cedar Hill, Texas) looks to continue his strong senior season. He has thrown 7 innings in every start for a team-high 35 innings. His 32 strikeouts (3rd) and 2.31 ERA (T-4th) are among top five in the SCAC.
- Abraham Griesbauer (Troy, Mo.) is the team leader in wins (3-0) and is tied 4th in the conference.
- The lefty won two-of-four outings during the homestand with them coming back-to-back. His past 5.2 innings have been scoreless for opponents, and he did strikeout 5 TLU batters last weekend. This included sitting down the side in order during his winning decision on Saturday.
- Cole Morden (Arlington, Texas) is another reliever having a great year with a team-low 1.86 ERA in 9.2 innings (6 appearances).
- Conrad Voss (Corona, Calif.) has started five times as well to match Hammonds for a team-most. The freshman southpaw is second on the staff with 22 punch outs.
SCOUTING THE 'ROOS
- Austin College is 5-15 this season and were swept in three contests last weekend at home versus Centenary College (12-0, 12-0, 9-6).
- In the 'Roos midweek non-conference matchup this week resulted in a 9-6 victory over Hendrix College.
- Overall, the Maroon and Gold are 2-10 at the home confines.
- Brett Taff has been the power hitter launching three round-trippers and leading the team in RBIs (12). He is also producing a slash line of .344/.389/.516 (AVG/OBP/SLG).
- Scott Gelbart is another hitter with at least 50 at bats hitting respectably at a .294-clip. He has driven in 10 and is one of four players with two doubles.
- Austin Dudley is the team leader in two-baggers with four. Additionally to that quartet, he has produced a triple and homer for six extra base hits that makeup his 16 overall.
- Josh Lewis is the anchor in the rotation with 29.1 innings thrown through five starts. His 3-2 record accounts for the majority of team wins and is tied 4th in conference. The starter has a 4.60 ERA.
- Chase Almaguer and Christian Thomas each have made four starts for the staff this season. The duo have respectively eclipsed 20 innings at 24.2 and 22, respectively.
HISTORIC NOTES
- The all-time series favors the Crusaders 79-41-1.
- In 2016, the home team swept at its own venues. Thankfully for Dallas the home series counted towards conference. The three non-conference contests in Sherman were 1-0, 11-3, and 7-4.
- Hammonds and Lewis went toe-to-toe in the series opener that was a one-run difference through seven innings. William Marshall (Frisco, Texas) was saddled in 1.2 after the 'Roos walked off.
- In the conference games in Irving, Dallas prevailed 9-1, 4-1, and 3-2.
- Griesbauer started six strong innings and Marshall earned a three-inning save. Fasone went 3-for-4 and Peterson had an RBI single for the first run of that game.
UP NEXT
Dallas continues its road swing through the last weekend of the month with a three-game series at Centenary on the 25th-26th.