UD Baseball Drops Tight Game 2 in 10 Innings to No. 2 Trinity; Honor 15 Seniors
IRVING, Texas - The University of Dallas Crusaders were swept in their two games series against Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) opponent #2 Trinity University. Dallas was no-hit by the Tigers in game one, losing in seven innings 16-1. In game two, Dallas hung with the Trinity the whole game dramatically tying the score at 5-5 on an inside-the-park home run to center by senior Ross Lowe (Lewisville, Texas). Trinity eventually went on to win in extra innings 7-5.
(Game 1 Information F/7)
Team Scores: Trinity (16) Dallas (1)
Team Records: Trinity (21-3, 9-1) Dallas (6-15, 4-9)
Pitcher Records: W) Harrison Durow (3-0), L) Conrad Voss (0-5)
In game one, Trinity powered their way to a dominant win on a trio of home runs and the starting pitching performance of Harrison Durow. Trinity's first home run came in the first off of the bat of Brian Schaub, a three run blast to left. The second and third home runs came from Division I transfer Tyler Pettit. Pettit's hit a two run homer in the second and a three run homer in the fifth. Durow shouldered the bulk of the combined team no-hitter going six innings allowing just one earned run with three walks and six strikeouts.
Dallas scored their only run in the first inning off of a sacrifice fly by senior Nathan Patton (McKinney, Texas). After that Dallas only managed to put a run in scoring position twice after that. Dallas got a runner to second in the fourth on back-to-back walks to senior Zach Taylor (Humble, Texas) and freshman Grady Birmingham (Newport Beach, Calif.). The second time was in the seventh inning when Lowe advanced to second on a balk by relief pitcher Samuel Conte.
(Game 2 Information F/10)
Team Scores: Trinity (7) Dallas (5)
Team Records: Trinity (22-3, 10-1) Dallas (4-10)
Pitcher Records: W) Mathew Thomas (1-1), L) Tyler Montemayor (1-3)
In game two, the Crusaders gave the #2 Tigers a run for their money. Trinity opened the scoring in the first inning off a pair of hits by Rafe Chaumette and Jack Wisniewski. Chaumette led off the first with a double to center, and two batters later Wisniewski singled to center to drive in Chaumette.
In the second inning, lead off batter Jack Vonderhaar walked and then stole second. After MJ Metz struck out, Vonderhaar then stole third. Cade Momsen then hit an RBI groundout to third, scoring Vonderhaar and giving Trinity a 2-0 lead.
In the bottom of the inning, Birmingham reached base on a dropped first base on a dropped infield pop up by the catcher, Momsen. Birmingham then stole second, and after freshman Jon Talley (Pineville, La.) flew out to left, Birmingham stole third. Then sophomore Andrew Womack grounded out to second to score Birmingham and cut the deficit to 2-1.
Dallas even the score in the bottom of the third. With one out, senior Joe Vondrachek (North St. Paul, Minn.) singled to right and then stole second. Then junior Casey White (Amorita, Okla.) singled to center, advancing Vondrachek to third. Patton then hit into a notably odd fielder's choice. Patton blooped a ball into shallow right field in between the convergence of right fielder Chaumette, first baseman Vonderhaar and second baseman Colt Harris. Even though the ball landed safely, White's attempt to advance to second was delayed due to the uncertain catchability of the popup. After the ball landed, Harris threw to second in plenty of time to record the out. Vondrachek scored and Patton received an RBI to tie the game 2-2.
In the fourth inning, Trinity gained some separation. Momsen led off the inning with a single, followed by Harris reaching on an error by junior shortstop Michael Jaquez (Irving, Texas). Chaumette then walked, Christian Holloway struck out and then Wisniewski singled to right center to score two runs. After a pitching change, Schaub walked, Jason Meredith hit a sacrifice fly to center to make it 5-2, and Vonderhaar flew out to left to end the inning.
In the fifth inning, Dallas started the inning with back-to-back walks by senior Zach Saloman (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) and Nick Hovde (Waco, Texas). Freshman Anthony Maldonado (Del Rio, Texas) also pinch ran for Saloman. Then a controversial play happened. Vondrachek laid down a bunt in front of the plate that was fielded by relief pitcher Cade McGahan. Interference was called on Vondrachek at first base as Vondrachek and McGahan's throw reached first almost simultaneously. After the interference call, McGahan threw a pair of wild pitches allowing Maldonado to score and Hovde to advance to third. White then walked and reliever Mathew Thomas entered the game. Dallas then manufactured a run as White stole second, inducing a throw to second, which allowed Hovde to steal home to bring the score to 5-4.
In the sixth inning, Trinity began to threaten again leading off the inning with a walk and two singles. Prior to the second single, White and Vondrachek linked up to pick off Wisniewski from second base. With one out and two men on, junior Tyler Montemayor (Boerne, Texas) came in to pitch and induced a fielder's choice and a strikeout to end the inning.
The score would remain 5-4 until the ninth. Lowe pinch hit to start the inning and drove the first pitch nearly 400 feet in the air off the center field wall. Center fielder Meredith crashed into the wall attempting to make the play, and Lowe rounded the diamond for an inside the park home run to tie the game at 5-5.
In the tenth, Trinity scored the winning runs as Chaumette led off with a double, Wisniewski singled with one out to drive in Chaumette and pinch hitter Ezra Gore tripled in the last run of the game to right center for a 7-5 lead. Trinity's rally spoiled an otherwise brilliant relief performance by Montemayor as he went 4 ⅔ innings, allowing two runs on four hits with one walk and five strikeouts.
After the games, UD held their Senior Day ceremonies to honor 15 graduating members of the baseball team.
Dallas had a season high in stolen bases in game two with five stolen bases against the Tigers. The Crusaders also had the most stolen bases in a two game series this season with six against the Tigers, two of which came from Vondrachek to increase his SCAC lead to 18.
The RBI by Patton placed him in sole possession of second place in the UD program with 125. He surpassed UD Hall of Fame baseball player and former UD baseball coach Smitty Duke.
With the losses Dallas drops to 6-16 (4-10) on the year, and with the wins Trinity improves to 22-3 (10-1) this season. Dallas travels to play Hardin-Simmons University for a non-conference doubleheader on Tuesday, April 20, and the Crusaders will travel to Houston for a three game series against the University of St. Thomas on Saturday and Sunday.
Thank You Seniors
Following the games, 15 senior members of the Dallas baseball team were recognized. Photos will be posted at a later time.