Crusaders drop Series to Southwestern
GEORGETOWN, Texas – The University of Dallas baseball team dropped the series at Southwestern University on Sunday afternoon. An early deficit was cut to a run (4-3) in the fourth, but the Pirates claimed the rubber game with 13 straight runs over the next two home innings.
(Game Information) (Final 7 innings)
Team Scores: Dallas (3), Southwestern (17)
Team Records: Dallas (8-15, 1-5 SCAC), Southwestern (8-10, 2-4 SCAC)
Pitcher Records: W) Smith (2-0), L) Taylor (0-2)
Three walks and a hit by pitch in the first helped the Pirates take the lead in a game they never trailed in. The third frame featured a trio of runs to push the advantage to 4-0. Austin Smith tripled to right center to score a pair. R.J. Senining – who notched a perfect day at the plate with four hits and three RBI – followed with a single to center field.
Dallas struck back in the top of the fourth with a three-spot of its own. Consecutive walks loaded the bases, and then a two freshmen at the bottom of the lineup came through with crucial two-out hits to make it a one-run deficit. Maximilian Costello (Anchorage, Alaska) singled through the right side to drive in two, and Joseph Vondrachek (North St. Paul, Minn.) dropped a base knock in front of the center fielder.
In its next turn to hit, Southwestern countered right away to get all the runs back. Two walks started the inning, and both runners rounded third to score on a Bryon Dowdell II two-bagger that went down the left field line.
10 runs extended the lead for the Pirates and put the game out of reach for UD.
The Crusaders were outhit 12-6, and neither team committed an error.
Michael Ilardi (Atascocita, Texas) and Costello each recorded two-hit days. Ilardi drew a walk and was one of the runs that crossed in Dallas' only inning to score in. The first baseman also ripped a double and stole a base. The ribbies for Costello were the first of his career.
Jordan Stickler (Grand Rapids, Mich.) moved his on-base streak to 54 since last year after he was hit by pitch in the third. He has been plunked eight times this campaign. Nathan Patton (McKinney, Texas) went hitless to end a 12-game hitting streak.
Five pitchers took the hill for the Crusaders. 10 free passes and six batters hit gave Southwestern plenty of extra traffic on the bases. Zachary Taylor (Humble, Texas) surrendered just a run on a hit in 1.2 innings in the start, but was saddled with the loss. Abraham Griesbauer (Troy, Mo.) and Conrad Voss (Corona, Calif.) each recorded an out in the fifth, but were pitching consecutive days and had each gone at least three innings on Saturday.
Dowdell II joined Senining with a perfect showing at the plate with a 3-for-3 and walk. He drove in a game-high four runs, tagged two doubles, and scored two times. Jason McCormack scored three times, and Daniel Montgomery Jr. did not record an at bat has he was put on by four walks.
Smith started on the mound and earned the win with five innings tossed. He allowed three runs on four hits to go out three walks and seven strikeouts.
UP NEXT
Dallas returns home for a conference series starting Friday, March 30th, versus Austin College. The holiday weekend begins with a doubleheader at 12 p.m. that day. A single game also at 12 p.m. on Saturday, March 31st, concludes the three-game set.