Baseball Splits Conference Opener with Centenary
March 18, 2024
IRVING, Texas - The University of Dallas baseball team split their double header against Centenary college to open conference play on Monday, ending the day 13-4 overall on the season
Game 1
Dallas 0, Centenary 8
WP: Cody Myers (4-1)
LP: Adrian Montenegro (4-1)
Things got off to a bumpy start for the Crusaders' lefty ace. Going into today, Montenegro had only allowed the opposition to score in the first three innings of the game a single time when he gave up three runs to Nebraska Wesleyan in the third inning less than two weeks ago.
Centenary wasted no time in joining their ranks, as they took a 1-0 lead just three batters into the game. Montenegro also surrendered his first homer of the year, as Jobee Boone hit a two-out, two-run shot to make it 3-0 in the first.
The Gents doubled their lead and then some, scoring four runs on four hits in the fifth inning to make it 7-0. It was the first time all season Montenegro had allowed runs in multiple innings, and the first time he had surrendered three or more hits in a single inning multiple times in a single game.
The Crusaders added one more item to the list of unfortunate firsts, as this was the first time all season that they were shut out, managing just three hits while striking out 13 times.
Game 2
Dallas 6, Centenary 3
WP: Dylan Krause (4-0)
LP: Jacob Broussard (0-4)
SV: Collin Johnson (5)
Things were much more even in game two as the two sides found themselves embroiled in a pitcher's duel. After three innings, they combined for three hits and no runs to speak of.
The Crusaders had the best chance of the early innings, as they loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the third, but they left them loaded.
Both teams managed to scrape across runs in the fourth inning to make it a 1-1 game, and it took a little luck for Dallas to break the deadlock in the sixth inning. With two outs and runners on second and third, Tyler Darnell struck out on a ball in the dirt. Instead of collecting the ball and calmly throwing down to first to end the inning, Centenary's catcher made a mad scramble to try and nab Ryan Metcalf going to third base. The throw was off target, and Metcalf was able to waltz home for the go-ahead run.
A walk, a single, and another wild pitch later and the Crusaders scored three runs to take a 4-1 lead, all with two outs.
After Dallas added an insurance run in the seventh, Marcello Carillo II ran into some trouble in the eighth after tossing a scoreless top of the seventh. Two walks and three singles saw Centenary cut the lead two runs, prompting head coach Erik Grafton to bring in Collin Johnson (pictured) to attempt a five-out save.
Johnson escaped the inning by setting the next two batters down in order to preserve Dallas' lead going into the bottom of the eighth.
Dallas scraped across another run in the bottom of the eighth, and Johnson retired the side in order in the top of the ninth to record his fifth save of the season. He tied Michael Schweiss (UD Hall of Fame - Class of 2023) for the most saves in a single season by a UD pitcher.
On a day that was largely devoid of anything stellar at the plate for Dallas, perhaps the most remarkable offensive performance of the day was by Ryan Metcalf. The freshman catcher went 0-for-0 in game two, walking four times on four full counts while seeing a total of 26 pitches. He also threw a runner out trying to steal third in the first inning.
Up Next
As of now, there are no plans to make up the third game in the series that was canceled due to the weekend weather. The Crusaders resume conference play this weekend and will be on the road for the next two series. They will face Texas Lutheran next, starting with a double header on Saturday, March 23 at 1:00 pm.