SERIES PREVIEW: Dallas vs. Texas Lutheran University (3/28; DH | 3/29)
MULTIMEDIA COVERAGE
Livestats (Links for individual games on schedule)
THE LEAD
The University of Dallas baseball team (6-15, 2-4 SCAC) looks to shake off a three-game skid versus Texas Lutheran University (15-8, 4-2 SCAC) on March 28-29 for a weekend series.
Dallas is 2-6 at home, and have dropped its last five at Crusader Field. The Navy and White are in the midst of a 12-game stretch against Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) foes.
This three-game set with TLU caps a season-long, six-game home stand.
MOST RECENT ACTION
Back at home for the first time since Feb. 18, the Crusaders were unable to halt a strong Southwestern University offense that combined to score 26 runs in a sweep. Dallas fell Saturday in a doubleheader 8-1 and 11-5, respectively, before letting a 7-5 final complete the series the next day.
In the opener, the Navy and White allowed a four-run fourth, and add on to be played in the fourth and seventh. An RBI by senior Hunter Berry (Keller, Texas) nipped the shutout attempt the Pirates were going for.
The nightcap featured a tighter contest throughout the evening, until the visitors rattled off six unanswered to break a 5-all affair. This included a five-run seventh. The Crusaders jumped in front in the first and used a two-run second to build a 3-0 edge.
The finale featured an early five-run hole, mainly due to four runs coming in the second. Dallas rallied back with three in the sixth and a pair in the eighth, but could not close the gap. Senior Luciano Villanueva (San Antonio, Texas) boasted a three-of-five day and freshman Patch Healy (Plano, Texas) blasted a two-run homer for the first of his career.
IMPACT PLAYERS
Villanueva leads the team with a .348 average and 10 RBI. He ranks second in hits with 24, which include two doubles, a triple, and two long balls. The utility player has reached safely in nine-straight contests, with hits in seven of them.
Senior Trevor Keele (Edgewood, Texas) posted a multi-hit performance in the middle game of the series versus Southwestern, and carries a season-high, seven-game hitting streak. This stretch also marks the longest for the Navy and White.
He is tied with Villanueva in the homer department with two. His batting average is .329 and he leads the club with 26 hits, five doubles and 16 runs scored.
Keele has been effective on the mound too, closing out three saves to match a three-way tie in conference. The first baseman/right-hander supports a 1.12 earned-run-average (ERA)
Sophomore Alex Stack (Keller, Texas) and Healy have chipped in averages of .297 and .292, respectively. Stack rounds out the top three hitters with at least 20 knocks (22) and has scored 14 times for second on the team.
Healy matches Villanueva with 11 runs scored for third, and is second with nine RBI. The first baseman/designated hitter has collected four two-sackers. He brings a four-game hit streak, and has reached safely in nine-straight.
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
Texas Lutheran claimed a 2-1 series victory over No.12 Trinity University at Seguin, Texas, last Monday. The Black and Gold relied on a five-run third inning to propel the home squad in front by an eventual 10-2 decision.
The Bulldogs are 10-3 at home, but have reflected a 3-5 record away from the friendly turf. Prior to opening league action with the first six at home, Texas Lutheran traveled to Southwestern for a three-game, non-conference series. The series resulted in a 2-1 win for the Bulldogs. TLU was selected second in the conference preseason polls.
Tony Gennusa paces the offense with a .388 average, 38 hits, 10 doubles, four triples, and 28 runs scored. His 17 RBI are second behind Justin Law's 19. The duo have each blasted a homer, to even Klaus Bohrmann's two he powered alone.
Law sits second with 29 hits just ahead of Matt King by two; who is slashing .380/.429 on-base percentage/.521 slugging percentage. Six players are batting over .300: Law (.372), Lincoln Baylor (.340), Holden Bryant (.317), and Riley Schaefer (.310).
The SCAC's most recent Pitcher-of-the-Week was tabbed on TLU's roster, with Aaron Aleman claiming the accolade the second time this campaign. He limited the nationally ranked Tigers to four hits, while fanning five. He lowered his ERA to 1.76.
Also doing good work on the mound for the Bulldogs are Lincoln Baylor with a 0.68 ERA clip in 13.1 frames tossed.
HISTORY
The programs have met a few times even prior to Texas Lutheran's membership to the SCAC, with the Crusaders going 5-8 in contests dating back to 2010. Dallas has gone 1-5 in the past six, but last year in TLU's conference inaugural season; each matchup was decided by a single run.
After an 8-7 setback, the Navy and White evened the series in a 4-3 triumph. Key performers in that one were Keele with three hits, a run scored, and RBI. Current senior Zach Boylson (Fairview, Texas) contributed two knocks and a walk. Keele garnered the win on the bump with 2.2 innings of relief work.
The rubber-game favored the squad from Seguin, Texas, with a 7-6 result.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Dallas hits the road for a three-game series on April 3-4 at Centenary College of Louisiana. Friday's contest will begin at 4 p.m., with the second of a double dip following that night. First pitch of Saturday's finale is slated for 2 p.m.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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Facebook: University of Dallas Athletics