Crusaders Go Down to the Wire in Back and Forth Battle with ETBU

IRVING, Texas - The University of Dallas baseball team lost their non-conference matchup with East Texas Baptist on Tuesday.  They fall to 9-25 on the year, going into the final conference weekend of the season.

Game Information - Dallas 6, ETBU 8

WP: Austin Schaper (1-0)

LP: Jamie Wallace (1-2)

SV: Jagger Neely (1)

The Tiger's took a lead with a sac fly in the second, then burst for three runs in the fourth with a solo home run and an RBI double to go up 4-0.  The Crusaders answered back in the bottom of the fourth.  Case Holden struggled with his commnd on the mound and Dallas punished him for it, striking back for three runs, though they would leave the bases loaded as well.

Jon Talley tied the game with a solo home run in the fifth, his second dinger in as many games, and Cade Corbett put the Crusader's on top with a two-out, two-RBI single down the left field line to make it 6-4 Dallas.  

ETBU pulled one back in the sixth, then tied it up in the seventh with an RBI double by Jase Jones.  After setting the Tigers down in order in the eighth, the Crusaders had the chance to take the lead.  They had runners on first and third with one out and loaded the bases with two outs for Jon Talley.  He squared up on the ball again, but flied out to the center fielder to leave the bases loaded.  

The Tigers took the lead for good in the ninth with a pair of unearned runs.  The first unearned run reached base on a clear cut error by the third baseman, but the second error of the inning was a moment of great controversy.  With the Tigers batter swinging and missing on a hit and run, the runners breaking for second and third, Anthony Maldonado awkwardly threw the ball into left field as he appeared to try and work around the batter obstructing his path.  Head coach Erik Grafton, and many in the stands, were adamant that it was batter's interference, but they play stood, with the go-ahead run scoring on the play.  A second run came in with a single through the right side, bringing home the runner from third who was only there because of the wild throw by Maldonado.

Dallas threatened in the bottom half of the inning, but couldn't answer back as the Tigers held on for the win.  Four Crusaders had a multi-hit game, including Cade Corbett who went 2-4 with three RBI's.

Up Next

The Crusaders now enter the final weekend of the regular season.  They start a three-game series against Southwestern with a double header on Saturday.  First pitch is set scheduled for 1:00 p.m. from Georgetown.