Crusaders Come Back in Series Finale to Sweep Randall
March 2, 2024
IRVING, Texas - The University of Dallas baseball team won both games of their double header against Randall University on Saturday, clinching the series sweep and improving to 10-1 on the season.
Game 1
Dallas 6, Randall 1 (7 Innings)
WP: Dylan Krause (1-0)
LP: Keegan Jenderseck (1-3)
Dylan Krause was dominant to start the game, holding the Saints to just one hit and striking out three batters through the first three innings.
Randall's Keegan Jenderseck managed to escape the first inning with just one run allowed on a sac fly by Simon Turner, getting out of a bases loaded jam to end the inning.
The Saints tied it up with a run in the fourth, scoring on a two-out error to make it a 1-1 game. Dallas answered back in the bottom of the inning, taking advantage of five free passes and coming up with a pair of timely hits to bring in five runs and take a 6-1 lead.
That would be all the offense either team could muster, as both sides combined for just three baserunners over the next three innings. Collin Johnson came in and threw two perfect innings of relief to close out the game, scheduled for seven innings, and secure Dallas' ninth win of the season.
At 9-1, this is the best start to a season for Dallas since a 7-1 start to the 2020 season, and the best record through 10 games since starting the 2012 season 9-1.
Game 2
Dallas 10, Randall 9
WP: Cortez Saenz (1-1)
LP: David Neece (0-2)
SV: Collin Johnson (4)
Things got off to a bumpy start for Dallas in game two. The Saints scored first, capitalizing on two free passes and an error to plate their first run in the first inning. They could have had more, but ran themselves out of the inning as Alessandro Villegas was gunned down at second by Ryan Metcalf trying to advance after the lead runner tagged up from third.
Randall made it 3-0 in the third on a timely two-out, two-RBI single by Reagan LaMance.
Through three innings, the Crusaders had four hits, stranded five baserunners, and were held scoreless. Things only got worse after a disastrous fourth inning that saw the Saints plate six runs on just three hits, making full use of three free passes and an error to jump out to a commanding 9-0 lead.
Dallas finally broke through in the fifth and themselves took full advantage of free bases, with three walks and two hit batters in the inning. The Crusaders only recorded one hit, but cut the deficit to five with four runs scored in the inning.
The Crusaders weren't tearing the cover off the ball, but showed great discipline at the plate, walking five times and only striking out once over the next three innings as they continued to put the ball in play and make things happen. They chipped away at the lead with two runs in the sixth and a run in the seventh, all while holding the Saints scoreless to go into the eighth inning down 9-7.
That changed in a hurry after Caleb Hohman (pictured) stepped up with two runners on and one out. On a 2-1 count, the sophomore first baseman hit a laser beam over the left field wall for the 10th homer of his career to put the Crusaders up 10-9.
Collin Johnson came in and set the Saints down in order to notch his fourth save of the season and secure the win for Dallas.
After coming in to relieve Marcelo Carrillo II in the turbulent fourth inning, Cortez Saenz went on to throw four innings of shutout ball, striking out nine batters along the way.
Up Next
The homestand continues, as the Crusaders are set to host Nebraska Wesleyan next weekend for a three game series. The series will start with a double header on Saturday, March 9 with game one scheduled for a 12:00 pm first pitch.