PREVIEW: Crusaders Face Tough Competition on Upcoming California Trip
MULTIMEDIA COVERAGE
(3/7/20 vs. No. 2 Cal Lutheran University): Livestats: Game 1, Game 2 | No Video
(3/8/20 vs. Whittier College): Livestats | Video
(3/10/20 vs. No. 3 Chapman University): Livestats | Video
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FIRST PITCH
The University of Dallas baseball team is set to begin its four-game California road trip this upcoming weekend. The Crusaders will first play a doubleheader against No. 2 Cal Lutheran University on Saturday (Mar. 7) starting at 11:00 a.m. (PST). The next day UD faces off with Whittier College for a single, nine inning game beginning at 12:00 a.m. (PST). After a day break, Dallas will take on No. 3 ranked and defending NCAA Division III National Champions Chapman University on Tuesday for a single, nine inning contest at 11:00 a.m. (PST). Cal Lutheran University and Chapman University are both ranked in the top-five in the latest NCBWA/D3Baseball.com rankings. The Crusaders (8-4) are coming off a 5-4 home victory over East Texas Baptist University on Tuesday.
UD NOTES
- Dallas has scored the most runs of any inning in the 7th (20).
- The Crusaders are 5-0 when leading after eight innings.
- Tyler Montemayor (Boerne, Texas) has collected a 1.35 earned run average and three saves on the early campaign. Both marks rank second in the conference.
- Joseph Vondrachek (North St. Paul, Minn.) leads the team and conference with nine stolen bases.
- Dallas is 4-4 on the road to start the season.
A LOOK AT THE KINGSMEN
- Cal Lutheran is 13-1 overall with its first loss coming in the previous outing versus Chapman University (6-3) on Saturday.
- The Kingsmen have combined for a .338 batting average, .427 on base percentage, .481 slugging percentage, and 124 runs scored. Ryne Yamashiro has notched a team-leading 19 RBI and .425 batting average in 14 games.
- Three pitchers have collected three wins in 20 or more innings pitched so far. Zach Hardman and Alexander Rivas have 25 and 22 strikeouts, respectively. Christian Slattery has nailed down five saves in eight appearances.
- Cal Lutheran is a part of the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC).
- The Kingsmen take on the University of Redlands on Thursday before facing Dallas.
A LOOK AT THE POETS
- Whittier College is 3-8 to begin the season, but took down Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) opponent Centenary College 8-7 on Saturday. Centenary beat Whittier 13-6 in the first game of the doubleheader.
- Jacob Bauer leads the Poets with 20 hits, 10 runs scored, four doubles, and nine RBI in 11 games.
- Dante Mancia has gotten the nod to start four games this year on the mound pitching 17 innings, allowing 23 hits, 16 runs, but has struck out 12 men.
- Whitter is a part of the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC).
- The Poets play Occidental College for a three-game set on Friday and Saturday before taking on Dallas.
A LOOK AT THE PANTHERS
- Chapman University (10-3) was ranked number one in the nation, but has fallen to LaVerne (9-5) and Cal Lutheran twice by the same score (8-3) in the last couple of weeks. The Panthers lost an exhibition game 16-4 versus NAIA opponent Westcliff University on Wednesday.
- Henry Zeisler has a team-leading five homeruns, as the Panthers have combined to smack 17 on the season. Zeisler also leads his team with 18 RBI, 13 walks, and two triples.
- Nick Garcia is 3-1 on the mound in 22 innings pitched. Three pitchers have 20 or more strikeouts through 13 games. Garcia was selected as a First Team Preseason All-American.
- Chapman is a part of the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC).
- The Panthers faced similar competition as Dallas this season with games versus Sul Ross State University and East Texas Baptist University. The Panthers dismantled Sul Ross 17-3 and swept ETBU 8-3, 11-1, and 15-13.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
2020 Cal Lutheran Season Stats
2020 Whittier College Season Stats
2020 Chapman University Season Stats
UD All-Time Records: (0-0 vs. Cal Lutheran) | (0-1 vs. Whittier) | (1-11 vs. Chapman)
ROAD AHEAD
Dallas will make its next appearance at home versus Schreiner University on March 14-15 to open SCAC play. Saturday's doubleheader is set to begin at 12:00 p.m. The series finale is slated to begin at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday.