Dallas Baseball Drops Home Doubleheader to LeTourneau

The University of Dallas baseball team lost both games verses the LeTourneau University Yellow Jackets. In the first game, LeTourneau jumped on top early to defeat Dallas 12-3; but, in the second game, Dallas fought hard but ultimately fell to the Yellow Jackets 7-6.

In the opening game, Dallas put up three different pitchers throughout the game who allowed 12 hits total and were unassisted by 4 errors made by the infield. Sophomore infielder/outfielder Brian Shelburne (Portsmouth, RI/Portsmouth H.S.), freshman outfielder Nico Caluda (New Orleans, LA/Jesuit H.S), and sophomore catcher/pitcher Michael Morrison (Dallas, TX/Lake Hill Prep) scored the runs for Dallas. Morrison hit a home run in the seventh inning to pick up 2 of the RBI while junior infielder Martin Lopez (Albuquerque, NM/St. Pius X H.S) brought in the other.

In the second game, Dallas really made LeTourneau work for their win as the Crusaders challenged their lead and threatened to overtake it several times. Sophomore pitcher Michael Byers (Front Royal, VA/Seton Home School) started off the game holding LeTourneau scoreless on only one hit through the third inning. He allowed 2 runs and 3 hits in the fourth inning and then the Yellow Jackets scored 3 runs in the sixth inning due to 2 errors on UD. Byers finished having allowed 9 hits, 7 runs (4 earned), 2 walks, and 2 strikeouts in six and two third innings. On the offensive side, Dallas got the hits but were hesitant to run and it cost them the game ultimately. Dallas put up 11 hits, including a triple by freshman outfielder Adam Farris (Flower Mound, TX/Liberty Christian) giving him an RBI that drove in freshman infielder Trevor Allred (Anchorage, AK/South Anchorage H.S.). Junior infielder Dave Rettinger (San Antonio, TX/Central Catholic H.S.) led the team with three RBI while Shelburne brought in one as well. Allred scored 3 runs, Farris scored 2, and senior infielder Sean McSheffery (Woodridge, IL/Downers Grove North) scored 1 time. The closest UD got to winning the game was in the bottom of the seventh inning, in their final at bats. The score was 7-4 and Dallas had 2 outs after a bad luck double play. McSheffery stroked a single and then he and Allred advanced on an error, and then Farris, Shelburne, and Rettinger all showed great plate discipline in picking up walks. The bases loaded walks brought home McSheffery and Allred bringing the score to its final 7-6. Unfortunately, Dallas wasn't able to keep the streak up as LeTourneau changed pitchers and Morrison popped up for the final out.

Dallas travels to San Antonio, TX tomorrow, Sunday, March 14 to take on Cardinal Stritch University in a nine inning game. The neutral game against Cardinal Stritch starts at 3:00pm and will be held at St. Mary's University.  After completing their stretch of 6 games in 4 days, UD has some time off before heading to San Antonio, TX again for 3 games against the Trinity University Tigers.