Crusaders Drop Pair at Sul Ross to Start Season
ALPINE, Texsa - The University of Dallas baseball team lost their opening two games of the season to Sul Ross State in its doubleheader on Saturday. In game one, a tight 4-3 game was blown open by Sul Ross in a nine run bottom of the 4th that saw the Lobos take a 12-4 lead. The Lobos would eventually win the game 13-6. In game two, Sul Ross jumped out to an early 5-2 lead. After quiet innings in the 3rd and 4th, Dallas and Sul Ross began trading runs every inning for the rest of the game. The big damage for UD came in the sixth and seventh innings off of big hits by Michael Andersen (Denver, Colo.) and Grady Birmingham (Newport Beach, Calif.) for seven combined runs, resulting in a 10-9 lead. Sul Ross tied the game in the bottom of the seventh, and won the game, 12-11, on a walkoff home run by Jared Lorenz.
(Game 1 Information F/7)
Team Scores: Sul Ross State (13) Dallas (6)
Team Records: Sul Ross State (1-0) Dallas (0-1)
Pitcher Records: W) Sam Russell (1-0), L) Conrad Voss (0-1)
In the 1st inning, left fielder Tyler Darnell (Southlake, Texas) tripled to right field and scored when designated hitter Michael Jaquez (Irving, Texas) reached first on an error by Sam Russell. Jaquez was driven in by second baseman Nathan Patton (McKinney, Texas) on a double to right field.
In the bottom of the 1st, the Lobos responded with a pair of RBI singles by Carsen Thor and Jalen Benton to tie the game at 2-2.
Dallas broke the tie in the top of the 2nd. After third baseman Matthew Celentano singled and advanced to third on an error by Russell, he scored on an RBI Darnell who grounded out to shortstop.
Dallas scored again in the top of the 3rd to make the score 4-2. Patton made it all the way to third base on an error by Richard Bailey, and then scored when first baseman Zach Taylor (Humble, Texas) hit an RBI groundout to second.
In the bottom of the inning, Thor hit a solo home run to close the gap to 4-3.
Sul Ross exploded for nine runs in the bottom of the 4th. The inning started off with Benton reaching on an error. Matthew Wheeler singled to center, which scored Benton. After a pair of singles by Jett Hartley and Isaac Aleman, Wheeler scored and starting pitcher Conrad Voss, (Corona, Calif.) was removed from the game. Justin Keller (Dayton, Ohio) came in for relief. After Bailey walked, Jared Lorenz reached on an error that scored Hartley. Thor then singled to score Aleman, Adrian Munoz was hit by a pitch to score Bailey, and Tye Lindsey cleared the bases with a grand slam to left field. Jamie Wallace (Crockett, Texas) came in to relieve Keller and retired the next three batters.
Dallas scored again in the top of the 6th as Darnell singled to right to plate catcher Ross Lowe (Lewisville, Texas). Sul Ross responded with a sacrifice fly by Lindsey to drive in Thor, and in the final inning scored the final run of the game as Andersen tripled to center to score pinch hitter Zach Soloman (Oklahoma City, Okla.) for the final score of 13-6.
(Game 2 Information) (F/8)
Team Scores: Sul Ross State (12) Dallas (11)
Team Records: Sul Ross State (2-0) Dallas (0-2)
Pitcher Records: W) Justin Holt (1-0), L) Graeme Williams (0-1)
In game two, Sul Ross struck first with two runs in the first inning. Dallas replied with two of their own in the 2nd inning on a double by Lowe, which scored Tayler, and then a wild pitch, which scored Lowe. Sul Ross countered with three in the bottom of the inning as Aleman singled in a run and Thor singled in two more.
In the 5th inning, right fielder Grady Birmingham hit an RBI groundout to second to score Andersen. In the bottom of the frame, Lorenz answered with a two-run home run to make the score 7-3.
In the 6th, Dallas loaded the bases on a single by Taylor, and hit by pitch by Lowe, and a walk by Andersen. With two outs, Birmingham singled in two runs and advanced Andersen to third. Andersen scored during the next at-bat on a passed ball.
In the bottom of the sixth, Jorge Marquez doubled in Ashton Leech, and then Marquez scored as Thor reached base off an error by Jaquez.
In the seventh inning, Patton started a two out rally with a single to left field. After advancing to second, Taylor knocked in Patton to make the score 9-7. Anthony Maldonado (Del Rio, Texas) pinch ran for Taylor and stole second. Lowe followed with a walk, and Andersen tripled to right center field. Andersen then scored on another passed ball and Dallas took the lead 10-9.
In the bottom of the seventh after a pair of errors and an infield single, Peyten Kennard hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Bailey.
The game was scheduled for seven innings and went into extra innings. Due to covid-19, the extra inning rules have been adjusted to start extra innings with a man on second base. Maverick Martinez (Friendswood, Texas) was placed on second base and scored on a single by Darnell.
In the bottom of the inning, Lindsey was placed on second base, and after advancing to third on a groundout by Marquez, Lindsey scored on a wild pitch. Two batters later with two outs in the 8th, Lorenz homered to left center field to end the game 12-11.
In his first series with Dallas, Andersen went 2-4 with two triples, three RBIS, three runs scored, and two walks. In game two, Taylor went 3-4 with two runs scored and an RBI, and Birmingham recorded three RBIs.
Sul Ross hit four home runs in the series, one each by Thor and Lindsey and two by Lorenz.
Dallas plays its next series on the road against East Texas Baptist University on Friday the 19th Saturday the 20th. Game times will be at 7 pm. on Friday and 1 and 3:30 p.m. on Saturday.