Tigers sweep Baseball on Saturday; Dallas drops pitching duel in game 1
MARSHALL, Texas – The University of Dallas baseball team (4-9) was defeated in a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon by East Texas Baptist University (9-3). Game one favored the home squad in a pitching duel, as ETBU prevailed 2-1. Dallas dropped the nightcap 15-5, as both contests were complete in seven innings.
In the opening matchup of the twinbill, UD was outhit 6-3, but did take the advantage in the top of the fourth inning. Senior Nolan Kipp (Folsom, Calif.) ripped a two-out double to center field and drove in fellow outfielder Zack Boylson (Fairview, Texas) to give the Crusaders a 1-0 lead.
The senior tandem was among a trio of players that notched hits for the Navy and White, and both corner outfielders managed back-to-back doubles for an offense that was held in check most of the day by Zack Tampke (2-1).
The right hander for the Tigers allowed the lone blemish in that inning, while walking two and striking out three in six innings. Kirby Moore locked down a perfect seventh with a pair of punch outs in the process of his first save of the campaign.
On the bump for Dallas was sophomore Ryan Hammonds (Cedar Hill, Texas), who got saddled with the loss in a solid effort. Hammonds (1-3) fanned seven opponent hitters while allowing one free pass. He gave up two runs on six hits, with his demise occurring in the bottom of the fifth.
A single by Brice Winters started the frame, and he advanced as the righty for the Navy and White hit Christopher Hawkins to put the go-ahead run on with no one out. Two batters later, East Texas Baptist pulled a double steal of second and third, and Matt Sullivan notched two RBI as speed brought the duo in on an infield hit.
In game two, Dallas pitching was unable to halt the Tigers' bats, as they plated at least a run in five of the six innings completed. ETBU got things rolling in the first and added a pair in the second. A five-run fifth would open things.
The Crusaders cut the deficit to 7-2 with their first runs of the contest in the third and fourth innings. The visitors posted nine hits while three pitchers allowed 14 to the Tigers.
Sophomore Blake Palmer (0-2) took the hill and allowed seven runs (four earned) on seven hits in 2.1 innings. The native of Coppell, Texas, walked three and struck out four. Freshman Abraham Griesbauer (Troy, Mo.) and sophomore Eric Felchak (The Woodlands, Texas) also logged at least an inning for the Crusaders.
Offensively, senior Trevor Keele (Edgewood, Texas) was productive with a game-high three hits, and scored two runs.
Fellow teammate Luciano Villanueva (San Antonio, Texas) smashed his first homer of the season, a three-run shot occurring in the sixth inning. Serving as the designated hitter (DH) in this one, he also claimed a multi-hit effort with two knocks and combined for four hits and five RBI to pace most of the UD offense in the series.
The Tigers had many contributors on offense, with Brice Winter pinch hitting off the bench and delivering four RBI on two hits, and crossed the dish twice to score in three at bats as a DH. Dynas Doud drove in three and Connor Combs chipped in a pair of RBI. The two of them combined for a quartet of hits (two apiece).
Jordan Wilkerson (2-1) got the decision with a complete game effort in seven innings. He allowed five runs on nine hits while walking one. Wilkerson also recorded six strikeouts.
NEXT OPPONENT
Dallas resumes its nine-game road trip with three more non-conference affairs upcoming this week. A doubleheader awaits the Crusaders on Tuesday, March 10 at Howard Payne University beginning at 1 p.m.