UD Baseball Swept on Saturday at Howard Payne

BROWNWOOD, Texas - The University of Dallas baseball team was swept by Howard Payne University in their three game series, which concluded Saturday.  Game one was close until it was blown open by Howard Payne with a 10 run 5th inning. In game two, Dallas fell behind early, but despite keeping the game close they were never able to take a lead.  The final blow in game two by Howard Payne also came in the 5th inning on an RBI single by catcher Tanner Benson.

(Game 1 Information F/7)

Team Scores: Dallas (6) Howard Payne (12)

Team Records: Dallas (1-5) Howard Payne (3-7)

Pitcher Records: W) Bryant Chambers (1-3), L) Tyler Montemayor (0-1)

Dallas got on the board first as center fielder Michael Anderson (Denver, Colo.) reached on an error and then scored on an RBI double by second baseman Nathan Patton (McKinney, Texas).  Patton scored two batters later on an RBI double by Michael Jaquez (Irving, Texas).

Howard Payne answered in the bottom of the inning as center fielder Jonathan McKay singled, shortstop Joey Villarreal tripled and right fielder Noyln Box singled to tie the game up at 2-2.

Dallas took the lead again briefly in the top of the 5th, as third baseman Joe Vondrachek (North St. Paul, Minn.) scored on an error.

Howard Payne then exploded for 10 runs in the bottom of the 5th. The inning started with a single by second baseman Will Iannacone. McKay walked and Villarreal doubled in both runners. Box was hit by a pitch and catcher Rylee McGee struck out for the first out of the inning.  Designated hitter Derek Gifford reached on a fielder's choice as Box was thrown out at second.  First baseman Mark Willoughby then singled in a run, third baseman David Paleo doubled in two more, advanced to third on a wild pitch and then left fielder Carson Wert walked.  Iannacone then hit a two RBI double, and then KcKay, Villarreal and Box each drove in a run on a single, a double and a single.  McGee then popped out to first to end the inning.

In the top of the 6th, Dallas managed to get three runs back as the inning started out with a walk and a stolen base by Jaquez.  Designated hitter Jon Talley (Pineville, La.) walked, and catcher Ross Lowe (Lewisville, Texas) singled in Jaquez.  Pinch hitter Matt Celentano (Keller, Texas) walked and pinch hitter Anthony Maldonado (Del Rio, Texas) drove in a run on a fielder's choice.  Vondrachek then picked up an RBI on a groundout to short for the final run of the inning, and the last run UD would score for the game.

(Game 2 Information F/7)

Team Scores: Dallas (3) Howard Payne (4)

Team Records: Dallas (1-6) Howard Payne (4-7)

Pitcher Records: W) Ricky Mays (1-0), L) Ryan Flores (0-1), Sv) Xavier Haines (1)

In game two, Howard Payne scored first with three in the 1st inning. With two outs, Gifford hit a two RBI double to left followed by an RBI double by Benson to center.

Dallas got two runs back in the top of the 2nd, as the Crusaders loaded the bases for Graeme Williams (Frisco, Texas). Williams hit into a fielder's choice, which scored Jaquez, and then Lowe scored as Williams stole second on the next at-bat.

In the top of the 4th, Graeme got another RBI as he hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Jaquez again.

In the bottom of the 5th, Iannacone singled, Villarreal singled, Box struck out and Gifford reached on a fielder's choice with Villarreal put out at second. Then, Benson singled to left field to score Iannacone to reach the winning margin.

Dallas managed to put the tying run in scoring position in each of the next two innings, but failed to scratch across any more runs. UD's best chance was in the 7th, as Vondrachek reached third base on a single by Anderson with two outs. However, Patton then popped out to short to end the game and the series.

For the series, Howard Payne committed nine errors, including six in game two, while Dallas committed just one.

In the series, Jaquez went 4-7 with a double, two RBIs, four runs scored and four walks, and Lowe went a combined 5-8 with a double, an RBI, and two runs scored.

Vondrachek and Zach Taylor (Humble, Texas) both had a triple in the series, and as a team Dallas stole 10 bases.

After the series, UD's record goes to 1-6, and Howard Payne improves to 4-7. Dallas will be back home on Tuesday, March 16 for a pair of games against Hardin-Simmons University before going back on the road next Saturday to begin their conference schedule against Schreiner University.