Baseball drops Pair on Opening Day
ALPINE, Texas – The University of Dallas baseball team opened with a pair of setbacks in Saturday's season-opening doubleheader at Sul Ross State University. The Crusaders enjoyed quick leads in both outings, but were unable to contain their opposition's offense.
Dallas had won the last four opening days to the Lobos, and this is also the first time since 2013 that the team dropped the first two games on the campaign. Sul Ross State picked up its first two wins of the season on a successful opening day.
(Game 1) (7-innings)
Team Scores: Dallas (3), Sul Ross State (7)
Team Records: Dallas (0-1), Sul Ross State (1-0)
Pitcher Records: W) Remore (1-0), L) Voss (0-1)
Dallas got off to a quick start in the first inning of its spring opener by scoring the first two runs. Five straight batters reached before an out was recorded, with Mark Peterson (Cincinnati, Ohio) driving in the first run on a double through the left side. Nathan Patton (McKinney, Texas) scored the next run on a passed ball.
However, the Lobos responded with a run in the first inning and took the lead for good with a pair of runs in the third. Jacob Pool had a single through the left side with two outs that drove in Monty Maley and Guillermo Loera.
Sul Ross State was able to add on with another run in the bottom of the fourth. The home team threatened to break it open in the fifth, but UD's Abraham Griesbauer (Troy, Mo.) got Jacob Ochoa to strikeout looking with two in scoring position and escape still down 4-2.
The Lobos were able to get three runs their next turn, with a fielding error leading to a pair of unearned runs. Meanwhile, Cody Remore was able to toss a strong outing with four hits scattered through five innings. He struck out six to go with three walks.
Besides one runner in the second, UD did not have a runner in scoring position until its final turn to bat. A hit by pitch, walk, and wild pitch got the Crusaders threatening in the seventh. Jordan Stickler (Grand Rapids, Mich.) had the RBI to finish off the final result, as Dallas eventually fell.
The Crusaders tallied four hits, highlighted by the two-bagger by Peterson. Patton, Luke Boylson (Fairview, Texas), and Josh Abalos (Lewisville, Texas) all recorded hits in their first game of the season. Conrad Voss (Corona, Calif.) took the mound in the opening day start. He was saddled with the loss after allowing four runs on four hits to go with six walks and four strikeouts.
Wesley Moss had the only multiple hit game with a 2-for-4 showing. He also drove in a run and crossed home once. Loera punched the team's only extra base hit with a double. Peyton Marett tossed the last two innings and allowed the run with no hits given up.
(Game 2)
Team Scores: Dallas (4), Sul Ross State (13)
Team Records: Dallas (0-2), Sul Ross State (2-0)
Pitcher Records: W) Vedder (1-0), L) Anderson (0-1)
Just like the first game, Dallas started out with an early advantage in the top of the first inning with multiple runs scored. This time the Crusaders posted a three-spot that only had one hit, but was a big two-run triple by Seth Hanson (Apache Junction, Ariz.). Patton drove in the first run of that frame with a sacrifice fly.
After the Lobos answered back with a run in the bottom of the first, Stickler connected on his first career home run that sailed over the left field wall to open a 4-1 advantage through two.
Unfortunately SRSU was able to pounce for 20 hits, as all its position players in the lineup etched at least one base knock. A run in the third cut it in half, but then a four-run fifth swung the pendulum to the home side for good with it 6-4. Seven runs combined in the seventh and eighth innings sealed the twinbill sweep.
Dallas did improve on its hit total from the first contest with nine overall. A trio of players had multi-hit games led by Abalos with three. Jessup Scott (Lewiston, Idaho) went 2-for-3 in his UD debut, and Patton added a pair of hits.
Austin Anderson (Waxahachie, Texas), Jamie Wallace (Crockett, Texas), and Tyler Montemayor (Boerne, Texas) made their collegiate debuts on the mound. Anderson got the start and went four innings. Montemayor got a strikeout to end the sixth and keep it a two-run difference at the time.
Moss, Maley, Mike Munden, and Ryan Acebedo all had three-hit performances. Ochoa led all players with three ribbies, and added a double. Moss tripled and Acebedo hit a two-run homer late to complete Sul Ross State's extra base hits.
Danny O'Donnell got the start and was chased after allowing four runs (2 earned) on five hits in two innings. However, Kole Vedder logged the final seven frames with four hits and one walk allowed. He fanned six in the win.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Stickler launched his 1st career home run and @UDallasBaseball's 1st of the season! Lead 4-1 in Bot. 2 of game 2! #GoUD #UDBASE #d3b pic.twitter.com/UVeJPRjP9T
— UDallas Athletics (@UDallasSports) February 3, 2018
UP NEXT
Dallas concludes the series on Sunday at 1 p.m.