Crusaders Baseball Defeats TLU in 11th Inning of Game 1; Splits Saturday DH
IRVING, Texas - The University of Dallas Crusaders split the first two games of their three game series against Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) opponent Texas Lutheran University. Dallas won game one in dramatic walk off fashion on an RBI single to center field by 5th year senior Nick Hovde (Waco, Texas) in the bottom of the 11th inning. UD's game one effort was also aided tremendously by performances of lead off hitter Joe Vondrachek (North St. Paul, Minn.) and relief pitcher Tyler Montemayor (Boerne, Texas). In the second game, Texas Lutheran erupted for a plethora of runs to score over 20 runs for the second time this season.
(Game 1 Information F/11)
Team Scores: Texas Lutheran (5) Dallas (6)
Team Records: Texas Lutheran (14-8, 6-1 SCAC) Dallas (6-13, 4-6 SCAC)
Pitcher Records: W) Tyler Montemayor (1-2), L) Brendan Beard (1-1)
TLU and Dallas traded a pair of runs in the first inning. In the top of the first, the Bulldogs put two runners on base on a walk and hit by pitch. UD starting pitcher Conrad Voss (Corona, Calif.) then struck out second baseman Austin Colon, and during the next at-bat catcher Ross Lowe (Lewisville, Texas) threw out center fielder Cullen Motsinger attempting to steal second on a double steal. First baseman Cole Irby then singled to drive in a run and take a 1-0 lead.
In the bottom of the inning, Vondrachek singled, stole second and then scored on an RBI double to left by designated hitter Michael Jaquez (Irving, Texas) to tie the game at 1-1. After a single by second baseman Nathan Patton (McKinney, Texas), TLU starting pitcher Brendan Beard induced a foul out and then a line out double play.
Dallas jumped ahead in the second inning as the Crusaders put two runners on base off of a pair of walks. After a double steal on a strikeout for the second out, Vondrachek homered over the left field wall to put Dallas ahead 4-1.
Texas Lutheran got a pair of runs back in the following inning. The first two Bulldogs singled to lead off the top of the third. After a fly out to center advanced both runners, TLU shortstop Joe Jimenez reached on an error by UD shortstop Tyler Darnell (Southlake, Texas) scoring both runners as receiving credit for an RBI. During the next at-bat, Jimenez was then picked off and thrown out at second base.
TLU tied the game in the fifth inning. With one out, Colon doubled to right center, and with two outs right fielder Tyler Cauley doubled to left center scoring Colon.
TLU threatened to take the lead in the seventh inning. In his second inning of relief, UD pitcher Graeme Williams (Frisco, Texas) loaded the bases which included hitting back-to-back batters Irby and Cauley. After an infield fly by Jimenez, Motsinger attempted to score a pitch that got past Lowe. However, spry defense by Lowe and a quick covering of home plate by Williams, combined with an accurate throw, resulted in the pair nailing Motsinger at the plate on a bang-bang play.
Dallas nearly had an opportunity to win the game in the bottom of the ninth inning. With two outs, Darnell hit a line drive into the left center field game gap that rolled all the way to the 362 foot marker. However, Darnell slipped and fell rounding first base and was held to just a single, his longest of the season. Darnell was then thrown out attempting to steal second on the next pitch.
In the 10th inning, TLU finally broke the tie. After two quick outs, the Bulldogs battled to load the bases on a walk, a single and a walk. Colon was then hit by a pitch to drive in a run and give TLU a 5-4 lead. Irby then hit into a fielder's choice to end the inning.
In the bottom of the inning, Vondrachek singled up the middle for his third hit of the game. Jaquez walked, and then after a fly out by Patton, Zach Taylor (Humble, Texas) singled up the middle for an RBI to tie the game at 5-5.
In the bottom of the 11th, lead off batter Michael Anderson (Denver, Colo.) singled to start the inning. Lowe dropped a sacrifice bunt, and then Hovde looped a single to center scoring Anderson to claim the game 6-5 for Dallas.
The walk off win for Dallas was the second straight walk off victory for UD over TLU as the Crusaders defeated the Bulldogs 5-4 in 12 innings in 2019. The two teams did not play in 2020 due to covid-19.
The win was also the first time Dallas won a game one of a conference series since defeating Southwestern University 8-2 in game of their 2017 series.
Vondrachek's home run was his second of the season.
On route to earning his first win of the year, Montemayor pitched one of his best outings of the season going four innings allowing four hits, one earned run, two walks and two strikeouts.
(Game 2 Information F/7)
Team Scores: TLU (22) Dallas (2)
Team Records: TLU (15-8, 7-1 SCAC)) Dallas (6-4, 4-7 SCAC)
Pitcher Records: W) Joe Burch (4-1), L) Ryan Flores (1-3)
In game two, TLU boarded the scoring train early and never looked back. The Bulldogs scored multiple runs in every inning except for the fifth in which they were shutout. TLU hit four home runs in the game, including a pair to right center field which rank among the longest home runs hit in that direction since Crusader Field was built. The first was off the facade of the UD bullpen, and the second went over the bullpen.
UD scored a pair of runs on a pair of RBI doubles by Patton and Andrew Womack (Vienna, Va.).
TLU's 22 runs scored makes the second time this season the Bulldogs have scored 20 runs in a game. TLU scored 21 runs against Austin College on March 26.
The rubber game of the series will be on Sunday with first pitch scheduled for 1:00 p.m. CST.