Offense carries Baseball to Large Triumph Sunday
SHERMAN, Texas – An incredible day at the plate for the University of Dallas baseball team helped avoid a three-game sweep at Austin College and ended a six-game slide on Sunday. The Crusaders clobbered season-highs in runs (14) and hits (16), while scoring in the first six innings of a run-ruled, 7-inning contest. It was the first victory for UD in Sherman since 2015 and ended a string of five setbacks in a row at the venue.
GAME INFORMATION
Team Scores: University of Dallas (14), Austin College (3) (F/7 innings)
Team Records: Dallas (8-15, 2-4 SCAC), Austin (7-16, 2-4 SCAC)
Pitcher of Record: W) Voss (2-3), L) Lewis (3-3)
NOTABLE STATISTICS
- Jordan Stickler (Grand Rapids, Mich.) displayed a perfect day at the plate going 5-for-5. He scored three runs and drove in two. The outfielder's performance propelled him to first on the squad in hits (22) and batting average (.348).
- Brice Cell (Keller, Texas) went 3-for-4 with his first collegiate home run and was one RBI shy of tying the single game record set in 2001 (6).
- Nathan Patton (McKinney, Texas) and JP Fasone (Englewood, Colo.) collected the other multiple hit games with a 3-for-5 and 2-for-3, respectively. Both doubled and Patton drove in a pair for the third contest in a row.
- Josh Abalos (Lewisville, Texas) added the other two-bagger for the 4th (season-high) UD extra base knock.
- Stickler (2), Abalos (2), Fasone, Patton, and Colby Davenport (Crockett, Texas) combined for seven stolen bases, which is the second highest this year. It was one behind the season-most.
- Conrad Voss (Corona, Calif.) earned his second collegiate win and tossed six innings while allowing an earned run on 5 hits. The freshman matched a personal most eight strikeouts, which came in his other winning decision against Hardin-Simmons University (Feb. 12).
- Gus Daniel recorded the 'Roos lone multi-hit game and drove in a run. Austin Dudley had an RBI and crossed home.
- Austin College etched two extra base hits from Chance Hatchel (double) and Brett Taff (triple).
- Josh Lewis was saddled with the loss. In 3.2 innings, the starter surrendered nine runs (6 earned) on 11 hits. He walked three and struck out four.
HOW IT HAPPENED
For the third time in as many games this weekend, the Crusaders got on the board in their half of the first inning. This time, UD made sure that advantaged held despite relinquishing a run in each of Austin College's turns to bat after.
A strikeout started the game, but then four straight hits and six straight batters reached to propel Dallas in front 3-0 early. Mark Peterson (Cincinnati, Ohio) singled to left with the bags full to break the tie. Zach San Roman (Miami, Fla.) followed on an RBI fielder's choice, and then Cell singled to right to cap the big start.
Dudley led off the home half by being hit by a pitch. He stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error with one out. A two-out infield hit by Daniel brought in the 'Roos first run to cut it to two.
Patton singled in Fasone who walked previous to a one-out bunt single by Stickler and stretched the lead to 4-1. Austin College countered back with a run in the bottom of the 2nd.
The Crusaders started to pull away over the next three frames. Cell homered to left for a two-run shot in the next trip to the pate for the guests. A trio of runs in the top of the 4th, again highlighted by two ribbies off the bat of Cell to give him five on the afternoon widened the margin to seven (9-2). Another three-spot in the 5th reflected a double-digit advantage (12-2). This was the largest lead of the campaign for Dallas.
In the 6th, two quick outs resulted, but then the 'Roos pitching got erratic and Dallas placed two unearned runs to continue its streak of scoring in each inning. Davenport was plunked to start the sequence. Abalos walked and then the duo pulled off a successful double steal. On that play a bad throw allowed Davenport to advance the extra 90 feet to score. After Fasone walked, Stickler finally tallied the lone UD hit that inning on a dribbler to short.
It was clearly a day the offense clicked and took advantage of opportunities for UD to gain its first conference win since dropping four after the opener.
UP NEXT
Dallas continues a six-game road trip with another conference series at Centenary College March 25-26. The three-game series begins with a doubleheader at 1 p.m.