Baseball splits doubleheader against Austin College; season series to be decided on Sunday afternoon

IRVING, Texas - The University of Dallas baseball team (21-11) fought hard against in-state rival Austin College on Saturday afternoon at Crusader Field, earning a split of two seven-inning games. 

Things didn't go as planned for Dallas in the initial game of the doubleheader, as Austin College pulled out a 10-4 victory after a rough 1st inning for the Crusaders. Dallas, however, responded with an 11-1 win over the Kangaroos in Game 2.  

Game 1: Dallas 4, Austin College 10 (F/7) Boxscore 

In the 1st inning, Dallas' starting ace Philip Carkhuff (Marietta, Ga./The Lovett School) gave up six runs in two-thirds of an inning; three of the runs were earned.

Relief pitchers Stephen Hansen (Shadow Hills, Calif./Verdiago Hills H.S.) and sophomore Andrew Laux (Keller, Texas/Keller H.S.), helped keep Dallas within striking distance, only allowing four more runs (three earned) in six and one-third innings.

The Crusaders were able to post 15 hits off of Austin College, compared to the Kangaroos' 12. Dallas, however, couldn't cash in on this advantage, as 11 Crusader base runners were left stranded on base.

Nonetheless, freshman Andrew Bossert (Friendswood, Texas/Friendswood H.S.) went 4-for-4 in the game, and scored twice. Sophomore designated hitter Nico Caluda (New Orleans, La./Jesuit H.S.) produced two RBIs in 7th inning, but it wasn't enough to make the incredible comeback effort. 

Game 2: Dallas 11, Austin College 1 (F/7) Boxscore 

In Game 2, junior pitcher Michael Byers (Manassas, Va./Seton Home School) threw a seven inning three-hit complete game to get his sixth win of the season. Against 26 batters, Byers threw three strikeouts, while allowing no walks. 

Offensively, the Crusaders showed off their speed on the base paths and power with the bat, getting twelve hits -- all singles -- while scoring 11 runs. Bossert went 2-for-3 while scoring three runs for the game, and senior David Rettinger (San Antonio, Texas/Central Catholic H.S.) tied Caluda with three RBIs to lead Dallas to victory. Catcher Delano Ponce (Albuquerque, N.M./Albuquerque Academy) also contributed by going 2-for-3 with two RBIs.

The Crusaders look to win the season series against Austin College on Sunday, April 10, as the two teams square off at 1:00 p.m. in Sherman, Texas.