Crusaders Take Two from Capital

IRVING, Texas - The University of Dallas baseball team swept their non-conference double header with Capital university on Sunday afternoon.  They improve to 4-5 on the year.

Game 1 - Dallas 7, Capital 5

WP: Ethan Mann (2-1)

LP: Curtis Clark (0-1)

SV: Jamie Wallace (1)

The first inning was a busy one for both teams.  The Comets tookk the early lead, scoring two runs with the bases loaded to go up 2-0.  The Crusaders answered in kind with four runs on four hits in the bottom of the inning, Grady Birmingham giving Dallas the lead with a two RBI double.  A run in the second and a solo shot in the third by the Comets tied it up at 4-4.  The tie wouldn't last for long, however, as the Crusaders put up three runs on three hits in the fourth to take the lead for good.

Capital pulled one back in the fifth, but Jamie Wallace threw two innings of scoreless relief to record the save and seal the win.  David Saldana and Tyler Darnell each went 2-3 with an RBI in the game.  Michael Anderson, Grady Birmingham, and Darnell all had extra base hits, Birmingham leading all players with two RBI's in the game.

Game 2 - Dallas 4, Capital 2

WP: Adrian Montenegro (2-2)

LP: Gavin Van Horn (0-1)

SV: Jon Talley (1)

Offense was relatively sparse in game two, but the Crusaders took an early lead again with two runs on two hits in the bottom of the first.  Jon Talley got the Crusaders on the board with a hard comebacker that caromed off the pitcher's shin and rolled through the hole between first and second base.  Anthony Maldonado turned a single into a triple in the second inning, stealing second base and then taking third on a wild pick-off attempt by the pitcher.  Graeme Williams brought him in with a groundout to make it 3-0 Dallas.

Both teams failed to score over the next three innings, until Grady Birmingham hit a solo home run onto the lacrosse field beyond the left field fence to make it a 4-0 game.  Things got interesting in the seventh, as the Comets made one last push to tie up the game.  The game nearly ended with no damage done, but the would-be final out reached base on catcher's interference on what would have been a swinging strike three.  A single and a bases loaded walk brought in two runs, but Jon Talley came in and shut the door to seal the win for Dallas.

Adrian Montenegro got his second win of the season, throwing five innings  of scoreless ball while striking out four.

Up Next

The Crusaders and Comets will face off one more time on Tuesday.  First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.