RICHARDSON, TX (02.20.10) – When timely hitting is alluding the home team, there's no better remedy that good, strong pitching to keep your team in the game. “That saved us,” said UT Dallas baseball coach Shane Shewmake, who saw his team split a Saturday afternoon doubleheader with Hardin-Simmons by eeking out a 4-3 win in the series finale.

UTD (3-2 on the season) defeated HSU 6-1 Friday with timely hits, but somehow scattered 10 almost-meaningless hits in a 6-1 loss to the Cowboys in the first game Saturday.

Comet senior Mason Thompson (1-0) scattered 8 hits in a seven-inning start to pick up the win in the rubber match of the series. Senior stopper Adam Spinn again kept his record spotless through three appearances, shutting down the Cowboys for the final two innings to pick up his first save of the year. He has now pitched 5.2 scoreless innings to open the season, and gave up just one hit to HSU over 3.0 innings of work this weekend.

“Spinn has been just like we thought he would be,” Shewmake said. “Thompson, though, showed something the way he kept us in the ballgame long enough for our bats to get going.”

Game 1: HSU 6, UTD 1 (boxscore)

The Comets didn't actually have trouble hitting the ball in the first game of the Saturday doubleheader, it was just a matter of hitting it at the right time. UTD matched HSU with 10 hits in the seven-inning game, but couldn't seem to come up with one when they needed it the most.

UTD picked up six of their hits with already two outs in the inning, and were 3-for-12 with runners on base. HSU's Sam Walker continued to bear down on Comet hitters when he needed to, giving up just one run while going the distance. It was HSU's first win of the season after an 0-3 start.

The Comets were already down 4-0 when they got their only run of the game. Even that happened with a two-out rally as Joseph Killgore's single was the first of three straight hits, including an RBI single from Garet Norton. HSU turned three double plays to shut down any Comet rally.

UTD's Jonathan Reeder (0-2), who gave up five runs in the first five innings, was tagged with the loss.

Game 2: UTD 4, HSU 3 (boxscore)

After each team traded leads in the game twice going into the 7th inning, UTD broke a 3-3 tie in the bottom of the inning with the game winner. Colton Wood drew a walk in the first at-bat against HSU reliever Adam Jacques (0-2), advanced to second on a Kyle Guest sacrifice bunt, then scored on Larry Bolding's third hit of the game.

Spinn then took over and shut the door for the final two innings.

Bolding also played a key role in the 6th when UTD overcame a 3-1 deficit. He started the inning with a single to center and moved into scoring position on a Garet Norton sacrifice. After Randy Lorber was intentionally walked, centerfielder Jason Diemer doubled down the leftfield line to score them both and tie the score.

Matt Kelly scored UTD's first run of the game with a walk and a Jacob Starnes RBI single.

UTD is scheduled to play at Texas Wesleyan Tuesday afternoon, then host Schreiner University in a three-game set next Friday and Saturday.