ABILENE, TX (02.14.09) - The UT Dallas baseball team used a big 6-run inning in an 11-5 win over Whittier (CA) in its opening game Saturday at McMurry University's Coast-to-Coast Classic, but was victimized by giving up seven runs of their own in one inning in a 13-0 loss to Methodist (NC) in the second game.

The Comets evened their record at 3-3 with the split, putting their best foot forward in the first game with a solid offensive attack and fine pitching from reliever Jonathan Reeder. But in the second game, UTD managed just five hits, gave up 13 and committed five errors to open the floodgates in the loss.

UTD 11, WHITTIER (CA) 5 (Boxscore)

UTD had six players with two hits apiece as they rallied from an early deficit with a six-run 4th inning that paved the way to an easy win. New third baseman Cody Ross again led the way with a double and a home run, driving in 4 runs. Rightfielder Randy Lorber,  the only Comet without a hit, still reached base three times and scored every time.

Ross posted the Comets to a 2-0 first-inning lead with a two-run shot, but Whittier was able to respond and led 5-4 after three innings. But in the fourth, five UTD hits and two WC errors opened the door to six unearned runs. Whittier commited six errors in the game.

The Comets got a spectacular relief performance from newcomer Jonathan Reeder, who  gave up just one hit in five innings of work and picked up his first win of the year.

METHODIST (NC) 13, UTD 0 (Boxscore)

As good as the first game was, the Comets' second game of the day was just as bad. Starting pitcher Damion Chelakis (in his second start since returning from an arm injury) lasted on 1.2 innings and the Comets were down 8-0 before even getting to the plate for the 2nd inning.

Methodist took advantage of eight hits and two UTD errors in the first two frames to put the game out of reach. Meanwhile, the Comets managed just five hits - all singles - and used five pitchers in relief in an attempt to stop the bleeding. UTD gave up five unearned runs in the loss.