Crusaders Split with Schreiner

IRVING, Texas - The University of Dallas baseball team split their conference double header with Schreiner University on Saturday.  They are now 9-10 on the year, with a 3-2 conference record.

Game 1 - Dallas 4, Schreiner 3

WP: Graeme Williams (1-0)

LP: Daniel Garza (0-1)

The first time through the lineup was largely uneventful for both teams, but Dallas broke the deadlock in the third inning with a two-RBI double by Grady Birmingham.  Schreiner started the fourth inning with three straight hits to bring in their first run.  With runners on first and second and no outs, the Crusaders snuffed out the rally as soon as it had begun by turning a 5-4-3 triple play.

Schreiner took the lead with a pair of runs in the sixth, meanwhile the last 14 Crusaders had been retired in order.  But the game turned on a dime in the eighth inning.  After Jon Talley drew a two-out walk, Birmingham smashed a two-run home run over the left field wall; it was the Crusaders first hit since the third inning, and it gave them the lead going into the ninth.  Graeme Williams tossed a scoreless frame to secure the win for Dallas.

Birmingham went 2-3, recording all four of the Crusaders RBI's.  Adrian Montenegro got the no-decision, but recorded a career record seven strikeouts in six innings of work.

Game 2  - Dallas 5, Schreiner 22

WP: Fito Mendez (4-1)

LP: Cortez Saenz (0-1)

Things started off evenly enough, the two sides combining for five hits through the first three innings.  Dallas opened the scoring with an RBI double by Andrew Gaspar in the second, with Schreiner answering back in the third.  The Mountaineers took the lead with three runs in the fourth, capping off the inning with a double steal, scoring on the play to go ahead 4-1.  

The Crusaders threatened in the bottom of the inning with runners on second and third and just one out, but couldn't make anything of it.  Disaster struck in the fifth for the Crusaders.  The Mountaineers scored 12 runs on seven hits, the Crusaders issuing six walks, hitting a batter, and throwing two wild pitches.  Schreiner put the game effectively out of reach with six runs in the sixth inning, meaning the Crusaders needed to score 11 runs to avoid the mercy rule.  Though they were able to pull three runs back, Schreiner would win by mercy rule.

The series concludes tomorrow with a single game, with first pitch scheduled for 1:00 p.m.