Crusaders able to execute late and take leads for good in both contests.
Crusaders able to execute late and take leads for good in both contests.

Gritty Wins for Baseball at Texas Wesleyan in DH Sweep Saturday

FORT WORTH, Texas – The University of Dallas baseball team pulled out two impressive victories on Saturday against Texas Wesleyan University. These triumphs were the first on the road this season for the Crusaders and ended a four-game slide.

A three-run sixth propelled the Crusaders in front in game one, and Conrad Voss (Corona, Calif.) was able to get a huge strikeout looking to strand the bases-loaded in the final at bat for the Rams.

In game two, the Crusaders came back from down a run with three scored in the top of the seventh. Abraham Griesbauer (Troy, Mo.) was able to throw his second scoreless frame and guarantee Dallas a series win at the minimum.  


(Game 1) (Final 7 Innings)

Team Scores: Dallas (5), Texas Wesleyan (4)

Team Records: Dallas (4-7), Texas Wesleyan (11-3)

Pitcher Records: W) Voss (2-2), L) Yancey (4-1)

The Crusaders erased an early deficit with a run in the second inning on a sacrifice fly out to center by Jessup Scott (Lewiston, Idaho). Mark Peterson (Cincinnati, Ohio) had started the inning off by reaching on an error. Another miscue by the Rams in the fourth allowed Josh Abalos (Lewisville, Texas) to score on a ball put in play by Zachary Taylor (Humble, Texas).

Both teams committed three errors, which hurt on both ends. Only three of the combined nine runs scored were earned in this game. Three runs in the fifth all counted unearned for Texas Wesleyan, which lifted the home side on top 4-2.

In the next turn at the plate for Dallas, Jordan Stickler (Grand Rapids, Mich.) started a rally by reaching base a 42nd straight game since last season by being hit by a pitch. Abalos followed with a single and then to top two hitters in the lineup successfully stole 90 feet. Nathan Patton (McKinney, Texas) singled through the right side. Peterson bunted to score Abalos as the tying run. Taylor got an infield single, but a throwing error helped Patton advance all the way home.

The Rams were able to keep it a one-run game by striking out the side from there.

Voss had entered the sixth inning and retired the first five batters faced. Drama began as Jacob Barfield singled to left. Logan Bistrup pinch ran and moved to third on a single by Michael Davila. A walk loaded the bags, and put the winning run in scoring position. Julio Ibarra pinch hit and was fanned looking to end the stressful finish.

Dallas was outhit 9-6. Abalos went 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Patton added a 2-for-3 and drove in a run to go with a run scored.

Tyler Montemayor (Boerne, Texas) started and went five innings. He allowed four runs (1 earned) on seven hits. He walked four and struck out one. Voss punched out four opposing hitters in his first win in relief.

Texas Wesleyan's Stephen Yancey threw six innings. He yielded five runs (2 earned) on four hits, while striking out nine.

Barfield and CJ Ateek notched the only multi-hit games with a 2-for-3 apiece. Ateek had one of the two extra base hits in the contest with a double.


(Game 2) (Final 7 Innings)

Team Scores: Dallas (4), Texas Wesleyan (2)

Team Records: Dallas (5-7), Texas Wesleyan (11-4)

Pitcher Records: W) A. Griesbauer (1-0), L) Davis (2-1)

Dallas used a similar formula to its pitching success as the first game. Jamie Wallace (Crockett, Texas) turned in one of the most effective starts in the young season for the Crusaders. He went 5 innings, but did not allow a walk while scattering two runs on six hits. Griesbauer was then able to just allow a hit as he faced eight hitters the last two innings.

Meanwhile, the hitters were not able to solve Rams starter Brad Sugg. In the sixth, the Crusaders finally broke through with Peterson doubling to left field and scoring Stickler. Stickler had begun the frame by beating out a single to short.

After UD's left-hander made Texas Wesleyan face the minimum in the home half, it was the guests that grabbed the momentum by taking advantage of being put on base. Luke Boylson (Fairview, Texas) led off the inning by being hit by a pitch. Joseph Vondrachek (North St. Paul, Minn.) pinch ran and stole second. After a walk, Seth Hanson tried to lay down a sacrifice bunt. All the runners were safe, and the tying run scored on a throwing error.

A strikeout made it one down, but then Stickler put down a successful squeeze bunt that plated Paul Scioli (Lubbock, Texas). Patton added an insurance run with an RBI-single.

The Rams put two runners on via a hit and error in their last at bat, but were not able to get runners past first and second.

SOCIAL MEDIA

UP NEXT

Dallas goes for the sweep on Sunday with a 1 p.m. start.