Baseball earns first Conference win at Schreiner on Saturday with split
KERRVILLE, Texas – The University of Dallas baseball team (5-12, 1-1 SCAC) split a doubleheader to begin a three-game series at Schreiner University (4-12, 1-1 SCAC). Dallas fell in the opener, 7-4, before rallying late in the nightcap to claim an 8-6 triumph.
UD snapped a 10-game losing streak to even the series and clinch its first Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) victory of the campaign. Both Schreiner and the Crusaders are opening league action this weekend.
After falling giving up the lead to SU with a four-run sixth inning, the Navy and White knotted the affair in the eighth with a home run by senior Luciano Villanueva (San Antonio, Texas).
The Crusaders broke the tied contest in the next frame. Senior Nolan Kipp (Folsom, Calif.) began with a triple, and would come around two batters later on a single from sophomore Zach San Roman (Miami, Fla.).
An insurance run would be added thanks to an error by SU that got Villanueva on base. The defensive gaffe plated sophomore Avery Arnold (McKinney, Texas).
Villanueva was a factor in the majority of UD's offense in the second game, scoring three runs. After beginning the first plate appearance of the matchup with a walk, the left fielder stole second and third, before scampering home on a throwing error by the opposition's catcher.
The Mountaineers responded with a run in the bottom of the second, and the visitors had an answer with a big three-run frame right after. Dallas took the lead after Villanueva doubled for a lead-off hit, and would score after the next at-bat as fellow classmate Hunter Berry (Keller, Texas) reached on the second of three Schreiner errors on the day.
Contributing to the scoring that inning was double off the bat from senior Trevor Keele (Edgewood, Texas). The first baseman paced UD's offense in this one with three hits, with the two-sacker lifting his club to a 3-1 edge. Keele crossed the dish on a wild pitch later to round out the scoring.
As a squad, the Crusaders racked up 10 hits, five counting for extra bases. San Roman, who knocked what would be the game-winner, joined Villanueva with a multi-hit effort. Senior Zack Boylson (Fairview, Texas) chipped in a triple while Berry added a hit to join the double-digit parade.
On the bump, sophomore Ryan Hammonds got the no decision after six innings of work. He allowed six runs (two earned) off six hits. The right hander walked a pair and fanned five.
The bullpen held the game right at 6-5, as sophomore Cole Morden (Arlington, Texas) and Keele tossed the final three shutout innings. Morden (1-0) got the win with two innings hurled, while Keele earned his second save. The duo each recorded a strikeout with no walks.
Brad Holmes paced the Maroon and White with three hits in four at bats, while driving in two and scoring three times. He belted a solo homer in the fourth to nip the deficit to one for SU.
Kyle Romaguera tied a team-high two RBI on one hit and Bret Hill and Connor Ver Schuur finished with multiple hit outings. Hill had an RBI-double for one of those knocks.
In the opener, Dallas took a 2-0 advantage in the second inning. Boylson hit the third consecutive single in the frame to bring freshman Patch Healy (Plano, Texas) in from third. Kipp was part of the trio of singles, as he raced home on a Berry ground out.
The Mountaineers nipped the margin in the bottom of the third with two runs, and would post a five-run inning in the fifth to control the momentum the rest of the way. Their offense was outhit 10-8, but the Crusaders made four errors compared to SU's two.
The scoring in the game was wrapped up in the eighth as Dallas chipped away with two, but a three-run margin was as close as the Navy and White came.
Villanueva notched the first of two multi-hit games with a two-of-five display in the box. He drove in a run as well. Junior Jake Pierce (Tucson, Ariz.) and Healy also added a pair of base knocks in the setback.
Getting the start was senior Martin Cronin (The Woodlands, Texas), who was saddled with the loss. He allowed seven runs (six earned) off seven hits in 4.2 innings, while walking one and fanning five.
Arnold logged three of the pen's 3.1 scoreless innings and allowed a hit. He walked two and struck out three.
Ver Schuur and Sam Pistrul paced the Schreiner offense with two hits each. Pistrui and Homes drove in a pair apiece to guide the run production for the home team.
Jayme Kidder (2-2) worked seven innings of two-run ball in the triumph. He danced around seven hits allowed, walked none, and punched out three. Charlie Stewart slammed the door for his third save despite walking two to bring the tying Crusader to the dish in the ninth.
UP NEXT
The rubber game for these programs is tomorrow at Schreiner. First pitch is slated at 1 p.m.