RICHARDSON, TX (04.14.12) - Lights-out pitching performances from three Comet starters led UTD to a 2-1 series win over Centenary College this weekend.

Despite a solid performance from junior Derek Dallas on Friday, the Comets had an eight-game win streak snapped with a 3-1 loss in the series opener. But sophomore Jason Fink led the way to a 10-0 shutout in the first game of the Saturday doubleheader, and senior Marvin Prestridge allowed just one unearned run as the Comets rallied for a 2-1 win in the series finale.

UTD improved to 25-12 on the season with the non-conference series win, but had to sit and watch the rest of the ASC East Division play the games that counted over the weekend. UTD still leads the division at 12-3 heading into the final weekend, but has just a one-game lead on UT-Tyler. Both teams finish up their regular season next weekend, with the Comets heading to East Texas Baptist and UTT hosting Louisiana College. Any combination of two UTD wins or UT Tyler loss would clinch the East Division title for the Comets.

Centenary, whose games do not count in the conference standings, fell 22-11 on the season.

FRIDAY: CENTENARY 3, UTD 1 (BOX SCORE)

UT Dallas baseball team got a solid pitching performance from junior Derek Dallas, but a two-run home run in the 7th was the difference as the Comets fell to Centenary, 3-1, to open a three-game weekend series with the Gents.

The visiting Gents opened the scoring in the 2nd when Jeff Schaffert singled with one out and Jemari James gave CC runners at 2nd and 3rd with a double to right. Schaffert then came home on a sacrifice fly by Mike Martinez to give the Gents a 1-0 lead.

UT Dallas answered in the 3rd with a run of its own when Matt Olszewski opened the frame with a walk, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Jacob Starnes, and scored on a single up the middle by Zak Anderson.

Both pitchers then took over the game as Nugent sent nine straight Comets to the bench while Dallas retired 11 Gents in a row while before Centenary regained the lead in the 7th on a two-run homer by Martinez. The Comets then went down in order in the 7th and 8th before making one last rally attempt. Jake Wyand opened UTD's 9th with a bunt single to third base, but a ground ball up the middle by Kyle Guest was rolled up for a double play and Kaleb Robinson struck out to end the game.

Anderson finished 1-for-4 with an RBI while Starnes and Wyand were each 1-for-3. Kyle Guest also picked up a hit for Comets, going 1-for-4.

For Centenary, Schaffert finished 3-for-4 with two runs scored while Martinez was 1-fof-2 with three RBI.

DH GAME 1: UTD 10, CENTENARY 0 (BOX SCORE)

Jason Fink scattered six hits, struck out five and worked his way out of trouble when needed. Meanwhile the Comet offense came to life, scoring 10 runs on a 10-hit attack to take the first game of the Saturday doubleheader, 10-0.
Kyle Guest broke open a tight 2-0 game in the 3rd with what would be his first of two home runs on Senior Day. After Chase Brown and Jake Wyand had put together back-to-back singles against CC starter Cole Thompson (4-4), Guest sent a towering shot over the left field wall to put some cushion in the 5-0 lead. Wyand then allowed just three more hits the rest of the 7-inning game to preserve the win.

UTD took an early 2-0 in its first at-bat. Starnes, Anderson and Brown combined on three straight singles to open the game, including two infield hits from Anderson and Brown. Guest picked up the first of his four RBI in the game with a sacrifice fly to score Starnes, then Anderson scampered home on a Thompson wild pitch.

After going up 5-0, the Comets put the game out of reach for good in the 6th, batting around and scoring five more runs. A basehit and sacrifice chased Thomspon, but CC reliever Grady Flournoy ran into even more trouble giving up three walks and a hit batter before Brown deliveredd a key three-run double to clear the bases with two outs.

DH GAME 2: UTD 2, CENTENARY 1 (BOX SCORE)

Guest again delivered the key blow with a two-run homer in the 6th that erased a 1-0 CC lead and stood up as the game winner for Prestridge, who delived the third pitching gem of the weekend.
Prestridge ( 8-1) allowed just four hits, working the first seven innings, striking out nine - including the 2nd, 3rd and 4th hitters in the order in the top of the 4th inning - and surrendering just one unearned run. Chase Knight and Max Willard came in to close out the win with a perfect 8th and 9th inning.

Locked in a pitching duel with CC's Nic Parrott (2-1), Prestridge fell behind 1-0 in the 5th after Jeff Shaffert reached to start the inning on an infield error against the Comets. Jamari James then doubled down the left field line to drive in the game's first run, but Prestridge was able to strand James by striking out the next two hitters he faced and coaxing a ground ball to end the inning.

The Comets looked as if that might be all the Gents would need as they got just one baserunner into scoring position during the first five innings. But Jake Wyand got a one-out single in the 6th inning and Guest followed that up with another shot over the left field wall.

Jacob Starnes got an infield single in his final at-bat of the weekend to extend his personal hitting streak to a career-high 19 games.