Baseball experiences tough sledding versus Texas Wesleyan University, splits season series against Rams

IRVING, Texas - Exactly a week after defeating Texas Wesleyan University, 4-2, on their turf, the University of Dallas baseball team (18-8) fell to the Rams early Wednesday evening at Crusader Field, 12-1, thus creating a season split of the two games between the teams. 

Freshman left-handed pitcher Dylan Myers (Rosebud, Texas/Rosebud-Lott H.S.) received the starting nod for Dallas, his first of the season. Myers got in a jam early, as he walked the first two batters he faced. He however gained his composure, keeping Texas Wesleyan off the scoreboard in the 1st inning. 

The 2nd inning was a different story for the southpaw. In the inning, Myers hit Jason Holmes, the Rams' third baseman, before surrendering a single to starting catcher Justin Snider. With runners on first and second, Myers balked, which pushed another runner into scoring position. A sacrifice fly by first baseman Justin Padron brought home Holmes for the game's first run. Texas Wesleyan then produced the game-winning run on a single by Joseph Lassiter, the left fielder, which scored Snider. Texas Wesleyan's threat ended with a fly-out to center field, and a strikeout. 

With a few scouts on hand to observe starting Texas Wesleyan pitcher Drew Cavender, the lanky right-handed pitcher was adequate but shaky in his two innings of work for head coach Mike Jeffcoat, who pitched for the Texas Rangers in the early-90s. Cavender, in his brief stint, allowed one hit, while walking three Crusaders. 

Texas Wesleyan, playing match-ups at times, used six more pitchers in the game, with right-handed pitcher Daniel Milliman earning the victory.

Dallas scored their lone run off of left-handed pitcher Kyle Reed, whom in relief of Milliman, pitched 2.2 innings, allowing three hits and two walks, while striking out one.

Dallas' singular run was scored by sophomore designated hitter Adam Farris (Flower Mound, Texas/Liberty Christian H.S.), whom led off the 6th inning with an aforementioned walk. Farris then stole second base for his 9th steal of the season. Crusader freshman second baseman Mark Carlson (Hawthorn Woods, Ill./Home School) proceeded to single, which moved Farris over to third. Junior catcher Delano Ponce (Albuquerque, N.M./Albuquerque Academy) knocked in Farris for the RBI, on a sac-fly to the center fielder.

The Crusaders continued to make Reed work on the mound in the 6th inning. Carlson stood on third base after a wild pitch and a steal, while sophomore right-fielder James Kerin (East Greenwich, R.I./East Greenwich H.S.) was at second after initially walking then also stealing a base. The Dallas threat, however, was thwarted by relief pitcher Richard Parson, as the right-handed hurler struck out senior shortstop David Rettinger (San Antonio, Texas/Central Catholic H.S.) to end the inning. 

Offensively, Carlson was the only Crusader to total two hits, as Dallas was held to seven total hits by Texas Wesleyan, while earning six walks. 

Sophomore right-handed pitcher Andrew Laux (Keller, Texas/Keller H.S.) and junior right-handed pitcher Joel Hansen (Shadow Hills, Calif./Verdiago Hills H.S.) finished off the game for Myers. Laux settled in, allowing two hits and an earned run in 2.1 innings. 

Substitutes were aplenty for Dallas head coach Fraser Holmes' squad late in the game, as sophomore Nico Caluda (New Orleans, La./Jesuit H.S.), freshman Alex Thornton (Fort Worth, Texas/Arlington Heights H.S.), junior Michael Morrison (Dallas, Texas/Lake Hill Prep), senior Martin Lopez (Albuquerque, N.M./St. Pius X H.S.), Luke Kersting (Napa, Calif./Trinity H.S.) and freshman Zach Cannon (Tyler, Texas/Robert E. Lee H.S.) saw playing time. 

Next opponent: 

Looking to get back to their winning ways after dropping two of their previous three contests, the Crusaders will take on the University of Texas at Dallas (UT-Dallas) on Saturday, April 2, in Richardson, Texas. First pitch of Saturday's doubleheader is scheduled for 12:00 p.m., while the two clubs will finish their weekend series on Sunday, Apr. 3, in a single nine-inning game beginning at 2:00 p.m.