Crusaders fall at East Texas Baptist on Friday night
MARSHALL, Texas – The University of Dallas Baseball team (4-7) fell 11-5 at East Texas Baptist University (7-3) on Friday evening. UD has dropped five-straight and will look to right the momentum on Saturday with a doubleheader to complete the three-game set versus the Tigers.
The Crusaders scratched a run in the top of the second for their only advantage of the affair, Senior Luciano Villanueva (San Antonio, Texas) scored on an error by ETBU's second baseman to drive in classmate Nolan Kipp (Folsom, Calif.) to get the road team on the board.
A seven-run bottom half of the frame was too much to overcome for Dallas, as the home squad batted five of its 11 hits to match the Tigers' run output in the triumph.
UD bats did not go quietly, countering with three runs in the top of the third to nip the margin back to 7-4. Villanueva was involved again this time smacking a two-RBI single down the right field line.
Senior Trevor Keele (Edgewood, Texas), and junior Rene Vargas Jr. (San Antonio, Texas) crossed the plate on the knock. Two batters later, Kipp would walk with the bags loaded to plate another Crusader run and wrap up the scoring that inning.
The teams would trade runs in the bottom of the fifth and top sixth, respectively, before ETBU secured things by extending three runs combined in the final six at bats of its night.
Sophomore Alex Stack (Keller, Texas) and Villanueva each tallied multiple hit efforts at the dish. Stack extended his multi-hit performances to six, and Villanueva ripped one of the team's two doubles in the game. Vargas Jr. notched the other extra base knock for the short stops only hit. He also drove a run in.
Freshman Patch Healy (Plano, Texas) and senior Zack Boylson (Fairview, Texas) also recorded base knocks, as Dallas finished with eight.
On the bump, senior Martin Cronin (The Woodlands, Texas) was saddled with the setback (1-2) in 1.1 innings while allowing seven runs (six earned) on four hits. He walked three and struck out one.
Sophomores Cole Morden (Arlington, Texas) and William Marshall (Frisco, Texas) compiled the remaining innings each going at least three. Morden allowed a team-low, one run on three hits in 3.2.
East Texas Baptist was led offensively by Connor Combs with a three-of-four effort, scoring once with an RBI and double. Dynas Doud and Zach Compton also collected multi-hit performances with two runners batted in apiece. Doud crossed home twice, and Garrett Lakey also notched two RBI.
Taylor Henson pitched the majority of the game with 4.2 innings, while limiting the Navy and White to a run on four hits and walking two. He relieved Ashley Dukes, who started and allowed four runs (three earned) on four hits and five free passes in 2.1 innings.
Jimmy Russo hurled the final pair of scoreless frames while matching a walk with a punch out.
The series is wrapped up tomorrow with first pitch of the twinbill slated at 1 p.m.