Box Score RICHARDSON, TX (02.26.13) - The UT Dallas baseball team jumped to an early 4-0 run lead but it was downhill after that as the Comet pitching staff gave up four home runs in a 16-8 home-opening loss to Northwood Tuesday afternoon.
The Comets (now 4-8) matched a season-high for runs and had 10 hits for just the second time this season, but it wasn't enough as Northwood (12-7) had three innings with at least four runs.
UTD erupted for four runs in the bottom of the first off of Knight starter Jason Gareri, using five hits and NU's first of two errors in the game.
Daniel Saxon starting this off with a one-out triple to right centerfield and then scored on a dropped pop up by Northwood second baseman Logan Brumley. Three batters later, with the bases loaded,
Jacob Price singled up the middle, scoring Timothy Cole, to double UTD's lead to 2-0.
Kaleb Robinson then scored on a ground out by Micah Eaterling before
Pierce Fly singled in
Jake Wyand for the final run of the frame.
However, the Knights responded four runs in each of second and third inning to take control of the contest. UTD did plate three runs in the bottom of the third thanks to back-to-back bases-loaded walks by Fly and
Zak Anderson and an RBI single by Saxon, but the Comets would leave the bases loaded trailing, 8-7. Both teams posted single runs in the 6th before Northwood pulled away with two runs in the 7th and five insurance runs in the 9th. UTD's run in the 6th came on a Fly single, his third RBI of the contest.
Brandon Clounch tossed the first two innings for the Comets before giving to the first of five relievers. After retiring the Knights in order in the first, with a pair of strikeouts, Clounch gave up four runs on four hits in the second frame before making an exit.
Alex Kuhn (0-1) was issued the loss, giving up four runs on three hits and a walk in just one inning of work.
Michael Ward tossed two scoreless innings, giving up just one hit before giving way to
Tyler Dauer to start the 6th. Dauer gave up three runs, two earned, on two hits with two strikeouts in 2.0 innings before
Corey Hall took over to start the 8th. Hall tossed a perfect 8th with a pair of strikeouts before giving up five runs, only three of which were earned, on five hits in 1.2 innings.
Ryan Lynch recorded the final out of the 9th with a strikeout.
Fly went 2-for-4 from the plate while Saxon was 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored. Wyand was 2-for-3 with two runs scored to round out the Comets with multiple hits.
Next up for UTD is a three-game weekend home series with Concordia. The two teams open up with a single game Friday at 2 p.m. before a 12 p.m. Saturday doubleheader at the UTD Baseball Field.
