Crusaders unable to rally by Hardin-Simmons Saturday Night
ABILENE, Texas – The University of Dallas baseball team clawed back against Hardin-Simmons University twice, but could not overcome the deficit in a 9-7 setback on Saturday night. The Cowboys erased a one-run deficit with four of their own in the first, and would counter for three after UD got within one in the sixth inning.
GAME ONE INFORMATION
Teams: University of Dallas (7), Hardin-Simmons University (9)
Records: Dallas (4-13), La Verne (8-6)
Pitching decisions: W) Hallmark (2-1), L) Felchak (0-6) S) Cooling (5)
The Crusaders gained an early advantage in the first inning. Lead-off hitter, freshman Josh Abalos (Lewisville, Texas) reaching on an infield hit to the shortstop and then advanced to second on a throwing error. UD's leading hitter would score on the second Cowboy error of the frame, as freshman Thomas Martin (Vancouver, Wash.) reached on a fielding miscue by the first baseman.
Hardin-Simmons struck back with five straight runs, including a big four-run bottom half of the first inning. Three hits for HSU started the night at the plate for the home team, with that final knock of the bunch counting as a single to right field by Jamie Ball. His knock scored two of the four runs. Anthony Beasley and Cody Berryman also picked up runs-batted-in to complete the inning.
Down 5-1 in the fifth, Dallas picked up its second run that was scored unearned. However, the Cowboys had an answer in the bottom portion of the inning. It was the road team that finally got a crooked number on the board in the sixth, with the help of three hits. Two big ones came from seniors Rene Vargas, Jr. and Villanueva. The two San Antonio, Texas, natives each brought in at least a run, with Villanueva's reflecting two RBI.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Cowboys loaded the bases with no outs, but junior William Marshall (Frisco, Texas) battled out of the jam unscathed. No such luck in the next home inning, as HSU posted a three-run spot to extend the margin to 9-5.
The Crusaders put two runners on with two outs in the eighth but left them. In their final chance at the plate, the guests smacked three hits, including junior JP Fasone (Englewood, Colo.) greeting HSU's closer, Taylor Cooling, with a two-RBI single to center. Cooling slammed the door with the final two outs of the game to secure the series-opener.
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
- Dallas was outhit by one (14-13) and each side had three errors.
- Vargas, Jr. went 3-for-5, tying a game-high and logging that many hits for the second time this spring.
- Junior Zach San Roman (Miami, Fl.), Martin, and Fasone each had multiple hit games with two apiece.
- Villanueva and Fasone recorded two RBI apiece. Abalos scored twice.
- Freshman Mark Resnick (Houston, Texas) ripped the lone extra base hit for Dallas in the ninth with a double.
- Getting the start for the Crusaders was junior Eric Felchak (The Woodlands, Texas). He went five innings and allowed six runs on 10 hits, with a walk and three strikeouts.
- Marshall and junior Blake Palmer (Coppell, Texas) completed the last 1.2 and 1.1 innings, respectively. Palmer logged three punch outs for his four batters he retired.
- Hardin-Simmons was led by Cooling with a 3-for-4 night and two RBI. Ball and Caleb Jacques also had a pair of ribbies each. Ball, Craddick, and Berryman tallied two in the hit column.
- Zack de Luna and Elijah Perez punched doubles for HSU.
- Jeremy Hallmark earned the win on the mound, going 5.2 innings in the start. He allowed five runs (3 earned) on eight hits with two walks and five strikeouts. Mike Richardson went 2.2 before Cooling moved from short stop to pick up his fifth save. He got his one strikeout on a batter looking to end the contest.
UP NEXT
Dallas concludes the series with a doubleheader at 2 p.m. tomorrow.