Crusaders Fall in Finale at Thomas More University
CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky. - The University of Dallas baseball team fell to Thomas More University 9-4 in the series finale. The Saints used a five-run second inning to jump out to a solid lead. Dallas notched eight hits on the day but was unable to create any big innings on the day.
(Game Information)
Team Scores: Dallas (4), Thomas More (9)
Team Records: Dallas (15-14), Thomas More (10-12)
Pitcher Records: W) Mitch Mierke (3-0), L) Andrew Magness (0-2)
The Saints loaded up the bases in the opening frame. Sean Lawrence then reached on a fielder's choice, which helped score a run to get on the scoreboard. Thomas More loaded up the bases once more in the inning, but a nice pitch by Andrew Magness (San Anotonio, Texas) got Dallas out of the inning. Luke Boylson (Fairview, Texas) led off the top half of the second with a blast over the left center field wall for his team-leading fifth homerun on the season. Josh Abalos (Lewisville, Texas) followed that up with a bunt single and a steal of second and third. Joseph Vondrachek (North St. Paul, Minn.) came up with a clutch two-out single to drive in Abalos.
In the bottom half of the second, the Saints scored five unearned runs after a fielding error, a hit batter, and two passed balls came about. Sam Hauer, Joshua Boeckmann, Lawrence, and Brady Reynolds all picked up RBI in the frame.
After a 1-2-3 third inning by Dallas pitching, Abalos singled and advanced to second on a passed ball in the Crusaders fourth. Michael Jaquez (Irving, Texas) doubled to right center to drive in Abalos and cut into the Saints lead (6-3). The Saints shut down the Dallas bats in the fifth and went to work on offense again. Matt Wellbrock struck out swinging but reached first on a passed ball. He then stole second and later advanced to third on a wild pitch. After Nick Jenkins walked, the Saints pulled off a double steal successfully as Wellbrock stole home.
Boeckmann hit a two-run homerun to left center field in the bottom of the sixth to expand the Saints lead to 9-3. Dallas got out of that inning after Paul Scioli (Lubbock, Texas) threw out a base stealer. Mark Peterson (Cincinnati, Ohio) singled in a run in the eighth, but Dallas stranded runners on base. The Saints would finish out the finale with the win.
Abalos led the Crusaders with a 2-3 day at the plate and scored two runs. Nathan Patton (McKinney, Texas) also had two hits along with a walk. Boylson, Peterson, Vondrachek, and Jaquez each had an RBI. Jessup Scott (Lewiston, Idaho) scored one run. Jaquez and Patton each gathered a double on the day. Abalos swiped two bases along the way.
Magness pitched four innings. He gave up six hits and six runs (1 earned) in his outing. He also struck out three men. Ryan Flores (San Diego, Calif.) came in relief for two innings of work. He gave up two earned runs and had three strikeouts. William Bresnahan (Windham, N.H.) pitched the final two innings, giving up no runs off of two hits.
Boeckmann led the Saints with a 3-4 effort at the plate with three RBI and one run scored. Lawrence had three RBI and one hit with a run scored. Hauer and Billy Martin both scored two runs. The Saints stole four bases in the game.
Mitch Mierke pitched five innings of work and gave up three runs (2 earned) off of six hits. Andrew Schramm gave up one run in 2.2 innings. Jonathan Breeden and Justin Ward finished out the game (1.1 innings) giving up no hits and no runs.
UP NEXT
Dallas will make up its previously rained out game against Hardin-Simmons University on Tuesday (Apr. 9). The single-game contest is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. in Abilene.