Big Ninth cannot Overcome 7-Run 8th; Baseball falls by One to Arlington Baptist
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas – It was high scoring in the final two innings of a thrilling 11-10 final at QuikTrip Park on Wednesday night. The University of Dallas baseball team's five-run comeback in the ninth fell shy, after Arlington Baptist College held on with the help of tallying seven runs in the previous frame to nip a 5-4 deficit.
GAME INFORMATION
Team Scores: University of Dallas (10), Arlington Baptist College (11)
Team Records: Dallas (4-19), Arlington Baptist (12-21)
Pitching Records: W) Olivarez (N/A), L) Scioli (0-1)
The offense was mildly calm through the first six innings, with both sides tacking two runs at that juncture. Dallas took the first lead of the night, 3-2, with freshman Mark Peterson (Cincinnati, Ohio) ripping a triple deep over the center fielder's head. Junior JP Fasone (Englewood, Colo.), who was one stolen base away from tying the program record in a single game; scored after swiping half his career-most in a game by taking second and third during the same at-bat.
Arlington Baptist regained the edge by putting two runs on the board in the bottom half of the seventh. Justin Olivarez singled up the middle and drove the game-tying and go-ahead runs at the time as Brandt Roush and Trevor Currington scored.
In the eighth, the Crusaders turned the momentum back on their side with junior Zach San Roman (Miami, Fl.) up and freshman Thomas Martin (Vancouver, Wash.) at second with two outs. After a pitching change, San Roman sent the first pitch from ABC's Olivarez just inside the left field wall at the Grand Prairie Air Hog's home ballpark. The two-run blast was San Roman's first of his career with UD and the first for the club dating back to game one against University of Texas at Tyler on February 6.
The Patriots countered with seven runs on seven hits in their trip to the plate next. George Valdez knotted the scoreboard with a rip that glanced off the pitcher, and all runners advanced safely with the bases already loaded. Jared McKinney and Oliverez lifted the home squad in front 7-5 with consecutive two-out singles. Ivan Rios had the big knock down the right field line to increase the edge to 9-5.
UD had one final push trailing 11-5 in its last turn batting. Sophomore Cole Wessling (Denton, Texas) pinch hit and was plunked to spark a five-run rally. Martin had a sacrifice fly to start the scoring stretch. With two outs, senior Luciano Villanueva (San Antonio, Texas) walked to load the bases again for San Roman. The catcher/first baseman scorched another big hit that was ruled a double and cleared the bases. He scored on an errant relay throw that wound up in the visitor's dugout on the first base side. That nipped the margin to 11-10, but a strikeout ended the hard effort.
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
- Both team's combined for 17 of the game's 21 runs from the seventh inning on.
- Martin tied a personal-best hitting streak at five games with his game-high, 3-for-4 performance.
- Freshman Josh Abalos (Lewisville, Texas), San Roman, and Fasone each had multi-hit nights.
- San Roman notched a career-high five RBI, and is only third time to have more than one ribbie in his career.
- Other UD RBI contributors: Peterson (13), Fasone (7), Martin (14).
- UD extra base hits: San Roman Double (3) and Peterson Triple (1).
- Season-high six stolen bases for the Crusaders: 4-Fasone (5), Abalos (7), Arnold (9).
- Dallas outhit the Patriots 11-10, and committed more errors 3-2.
- Seven pitchers combined for eight innings on the mound for UD. Freshman Paul Scioli (Lubbock, Texas) got saddled with the loss.
- Junior Blake Palmer (Coppell, Texas) got the start for his third straight appearance and went two scoreless innings. Sophomore Kyle Gamez (Buda, Texas) had two of the team's five strikeouts and also matched Palmer with a team-long, two innings.
- For ABC, Ryan Sloma and Olivarez each went 2-for-3.
- Josh Darden went 6.2 innings in the start for the no decisions. He allowed three runs (2 earned) on six hits and struck out four.
UP NEXT
Dallas ends a 10-game road trip and hosts the first home conference series with Austin College on March 25-26. First pitch of Friday's twinbill is at 12 p.m.