Baseball drops both games of doubleheader to UT-Dallas, Crusaders look for retribution on Sunday as weekend series comes to a close
RICHARDSON, Texas - The University of Dallas baseball team (18-10) squared off with the University of Texas at Dallas (UT-Dallas) on Saturday, playing the first two games of a three-game weekend series with the Comets, which will conclude on Sunday.
Dallas fell to UT-Dallas in Game 1, 2-1, behind a two-run 8th inning by the Comets, while the Crusaders suffered their first shutout of the season in Game 2, losing 5-0.
Game 1: Dallas 1, UT-Dallas 2 (F/8) Boxscore
Entrenched in a pitcher's duel, senior right-hander Philip Carkhuff (Marietta, Ga./The Lovett School) was masterful for the Crusaders in Game 1, allowing four hits and as many walks in 6 innings. He also struck-out five UT-Dallas batters.
Michael Schweiss (Parker, Colo./Chaparral H.S.), a junior right-handed pitcher, entered the game in relief of Carkhuff in the 7th inning. Schweiss was dominant in his initial inning, striking out the side -- three batters.
Heading into the 8th inning, the score was a nail-biting 0-0. With two outs in the top of the 8th, Dallas got things rolling offensively with a single by left-fielder Devin Arnold (McKinney, Texas/McKinney H.S.). The junior then proceeded to steal his 22nd base of the season.
For the moment, junior center-fielder Brian Shelburne (Portsmouth, R.I./Portsmouth H.S.) played hero for the Crusaders, singling up the middle of the infield, which scored Arnold for the game's first run. Shelburne advanced to second base on UT-Dallas' throw to home plate, but was left stranded after sophomore third baseman Trevor Allred (Anchorage, Alaska/South Anchorage H.S.) popped-up to the shortstop for the third out. Shelburne and Allred combined for four of Dallas' eight hits in Game 1.
Sitting three outs away from the Game 1 victory, Schweiss again took the mound for Dallas. He walked the first batter (Starnes) he faced in the bottom of the 8th inning. Playing small ball, UT-Dallas successfully advanced Starnes to second base on a sacrifice. Killgore, the ensuing hitter, evened the score with a single up the right side of the infield. Sophomore right-fielder Adam Farris (Flower Mound, Texas/Liberty Christian H.S.) committed an error on the play, which helped Starnes cross home plate and Killgore advance to second.
After walking a batter and striking out another, the situation at-hand involved UT-Dallas down to their final out with Killgore standing on second base, and the score even at 1-1. Then, in dramatic fashion, Olszewski broke the hearts of the Dallas faithful, singling to left field. Killgore scored on the play, giving UT-Dallas the 2-1 extra inning victory. Schweiss (5-1) was hit with his first loss of the season, while Carkhuff was given the no decision.
Game 2: Dallas 0, UT-Dallas 5 (F/7) Boxscore
Dallas, looking to shrug off the tough theatrics of Game 1, elicited junior right-handed pitcher Michael Byers (Manassas, Va./Seton Home School) as the Game 2 starter. Byers fared well apart from the 2nd inning, which saw four UT-Dallas runs posted on the scoreboard. In four innings of work, Byers allowed five runs (all earned) on six hits, while walking four batters.
The Crusader offense did Byers no favors, as Dallas was held to two hits by a trio of Comet pitchers. Fink, the winning pitcher on record, allowed one hit in five innings of work, while striking out three and walking five. Of note, Dallas' two hits were had by left-fielder Devin Arnold and pinch hitter Nico Caluda (New Orleans, La./Jesuit H.S.).
Junior right-handed pitcher Joel Hansen (Shadow Hills, Calif./Verdiago Hills H.S.) was excellent in relief of Byers on the mound. Hansen, in the 6th and 7th innings, struck out two batters, while allowing no hits, runs or walks.
Up next:
The Crusaders look to get off their four game schneid and steal Game 3 versus UT-Dallas on Sunday, April 3. First pitch in Richardson, Texas, against the Comets is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.