RICHARDSON, TX (03.29.09) – For the first two games of a three-game weekend series, the American Southwest Conference East Division-leading UT-Tyler Patriots used almost untouchable pitching and timely hitting to post wins over the UTD baseball team. But in the series finale Monday, it was the Comets who came up with a good performance on the mound and clutch hits to post a 7-2 win.

UT-Tyler stretched out their commanding ASC East Division lead with a 3-2 and 7-2 win in the first two games of the weekend series, but the Comets brought the Patriots (24-6, 7-2) back down to earth with a 12-hit, two homerun attack in the finale.

With the win, UTD (14-15 overall) evened its ASC East record at 6-6, still good enough to stay in the hunt for a post-season berth with just six conference games left. The top four teams in each division qualify for the ASC Championship Playoffs.

GAME 1: UT-TYLER 3, UTD 2 (boxscore)

The Comets trailed 2-0 and were struggling to solve UTT starter Brett Holland when they finally got back-to-back extra base hits in the 5th inning of a seven-inning opener. UTD had managed just two hits off Holland through the first four innings, but got a two-out double from Randy Lorber followed by a home run by Cody Ross to tie the score.

But the Patriots answered immediately against Comet starter Drew Waggoner, who had given up just three hits and only one earned run until that point. Jeremy Harding opened the inning with a single, went to second on a bunt, then scored the game-winner on a double from Chad Daleiden.

The loss was another in a line of hard-luck outings for Waggoner (2-4), who finished giving up just six hits and striking out 10. Ross was the only Comet with more than one hit.

GAME 2: UT-TYLER 7, UTD 2 (boxscore)

The Patriots again built up a gradual lead while UTD struggled to do anything offensively against UTT's Blake Booher, who gave up just two hits through the first five innings. The Comet defense, meanwhile, didn't help starter Mason Thompson by commiting five errors, leading to three unearned runs.

Down 6-0 entering the 7th, UTD finally got on the board with an RBI walk by Lorber followed by a sacrifice fly from Ross. Ross's deep fly ball to left just missed getting out of the park for a grand slam that would have put the Comets within a run at 6-5.

That wasn't the only missed bases-loaded opportunity for the Comets, who failed to produce in the 3rd when they trailed just 1-0. After loading the bases with a hit batter and two singles, Booher got out of the jam with a popup and a double-play grounder. UTD also had the bases full in the 6th with two outs and couldn't produce.

GAME 3: UTD 7, UT-TYLER 2 (boxscore)

The Comets were finally able to turn the tables on UTT, getting both a quality pitching performance and clutch hits in the finale. UTD starter Damion Chelakis confused the Patriot hitters, allowing just six hits in a 7.0-inning start, allowing just two runs before turning it over to Jonathan Reeder and Adam Spinn for two shutout innings to end the game.

Meanwhile, the Comet hitters rallied the team from an early 1-0 hole. Jared Smith tied the game with a solo homerun in the 4th, then the Comets took the lead for good in the 5th when Johnnie Martinez led off with a double and later scored on a balk. UTD then broke the game open with a four-run 6th, sparked by a Chris Biguenet three-run home run. Tyler got one run back in the 7th, but UTD answered in the bottom of the inning when Ross tripled home Neal Gordon.