SHERMAN, TX (03.31.09) – The UT Dallas baseball team broke a string of bad luck with mid-week games Tuesday, overpowering Austin College 14-6 and 13-1.

The pair of victories raised the Comets' overall record back above .500 (16-15) and marked UTD's first mid-week, non-conference win since a 10-4 victory over Southwestern on Feb. 24.

UTD not only jumped on the Kangaroos early in both games with an offensive barrage that included 27 hits in two seven-ininng games. The Comets may also have discovered another effective arm to throw into the mix on a pitching staff that has struggled for consistency all season.

Dallas freshman Max Willard stymied AC in his first appearance on the mound this season, going 5.0 innings in the second game and allowing just two hits while recording six strikeouts. In the opener, starter David Shaw was almost as effective, allowing just one hit in a four-inning start.

Meanwhile, the Comet offense was putting up runs in bunches. Freshman infielder Jacob Starnes was one of several hitting stars, going 5-for-11 with four RBI and scoring three runs. Cody Ross drove in four runs in the first game while catcher Bradley Price went 4-for-4 in Game 2. Jared Smith and Chad Hudson homered for the Comets.

GAME 1: UTD 14, AC 6 (boxscore)

Ross had base hits (including two doubles) his first three times to the plate, driving in four runs as UTD overcame an early 1-0 deficit with three-run innings in the 3rd and 4th. The Comets then blew the game wide open with a five-run 6th as Starnes and Randy Lorber each brought home a pair with an RBI triple and double respectively. The Comets added two more in the top of the 7th off a pair of sacrifice flies.

GAME 2: UTD 13, AC 1 (boxscore)

Willard, who was listed on the roster as an outfielder, made the most of his first mound appearance of the season, taking a no-hitter to the 4th inning. Meanwhile, his teammates were giving him more cushion than he would need, scoring three in the 2nd when Price and Starnes delivered back-to-back RBI doubles; then breaking the game open with a nine-run 4th. UTD sent 13 hitters to the plate that inning and 10 reached base via three hits, five walks, a hit batter and an AC fielding error. Hudson delivered a grand-slam home run for four of the runs.

Willard gave way to Tim Flasik in the 6th, and AC eventually worked a run across in the 7th with a sacrifice fly.

The Comets take this weekend off from American Southwest Conference play, then host Texas Wesleyan in a non-conference meeting next Tuesday.