CLARKSVILLE, ARK (03.14.09) - The UT Dallas baseball team took its second straight American Southwest Conference East Division series this weekend, taking two-of- three from the University of the Ozarks. But for the second straight week, the Comets just missed out on an opportunity to sweep the series.
UTD (12-9, 4-2) enjoyed a 37-hit afternoon in a Sunday doubleheader, taking one-sided 17-5 and 18-5 wins. On Friday, the Comets had the first game of the series seemingly wrapped up as well with a 4-3 lead with two outs in the ninth, but two hit batters set the stage for a three-run Bruce Cameron home run and a 6-4 Eagles (8-12, 3-3) win.
Shortstop
Garet Norton was one of several Comets who enjoyed big offensive weekends, going 6-for-9 in the first two games with 8 runs batted in.
Jake Eisman went 6-for-13 with a pair of home runs and a double.
Jared Smith became UTD's all-time home run leader by belting his 8th of the season in the first game Sunday, giving him a career total of 21 in just two seasons, bypassing Nick Bird's two-year total of 20.
GAME 1: OZARKS 6, UTD 4 (boxscore)
After the series opener was delayed by rain until Saturday, the Comets saw their potential one-run win turn into a two-run loss with two hit batters and Cameron's swing of the bat in the bottom of the 9th.
The Comets had a 3-0 lead through the first four innings. Norton drove in an unearned run in the 2nd, then homered along with
Grant Friddell in the 4th. Ozarks tied the score in the sixth, but Eisman was able to work his way around the bases after a leadoff double in the 8th. Relief ace
Jonathan Reeder took care of the first two batters he faced in the 9th, but hit the next two, setting the stage for Cameron's home run.
The loss wasted a strong start by
Mason Thompson, who pitched seven innings and gave up just five hits and one earned run.
GAME 2: UTD 17, OZARKS 5 (boxscore)
UTD didn't want to take any chances in the seven-inning game of the Sunday doubleheader, using 18 hits to race out to an 11-3 lead after the first six innings, then adding another six in the 7th.
Drew Waggoner went six innings to pick up the win, giving up just seven hits and no earned runs with five strikeouts.
The Comets scored four runs in their first at-bat, which included a 2-run homer from Eisman
. Ozarks cut the lead to 4-3 in the 4th, but UTD added seven runs in the 5th and six more in the 7th when Smith and Norton both had grand slam home runs to go along with a 2-RBI double by Randy Lorber. Norton and Smith combined for 10 RBI. Smith's home run was the record-setter.
GAME 3: UTD 18, OZARKS 5 (boxscore)
Cody Ross, Adam Hudec and Eisman led a 19-hit barrage by going a combined 9-for-15 with 14 RBI. UTD led 6-3 after three innings, then added six-run spans over the 4th and 5th inning and 7th and 8th innings. Ross and Eisman homored during the final surge to put the game out of reach.
Damon Chelakis picked up his second win with a 6.0-inning start, giving up just three earned runs with four strikeouts.
