Box Score RICHARDSON, TX (03.18.14) - The UT Dallas baseball team pounded out 17 hits as the Comets earned a 13-7 win over Austin College Tuesday afternoon in non-conference play.
The Comets (now 10-6) scored five runs in each the fourth and sixth frames en route to their third win in four outings. With the loss, Austin College fell to 2-16.
UTD opened the scoring in the second inning with a bases-loaded RBI single through the left side of the 'Roo infield by
Nolan Smith, scoring Donavan Vess. However, the Comets would not plate another run and left two on base in the frame. Austin College knotted the game in the third, 1-1, without the use of a hit, tallying a run on the first of what would be three UTD errors in the game.
The Comets looked to put the game away in the fourth with five runs on four hits and five AC errors. Vess opened the inning by reaching on an error and advanced to third on a failed pick-off attempt by 'Roo starter Todd Takabuki.
Wesley Gill then single in Vess to give UTD a 2-1 lead and advanced to second on the third error of the frame for AC as the 'Roo leftfielder booted the ball.
After a bunt single by
J.D. DeLoach that put runners at the corners for the Comets,
Sergio Neaves lifted UTD to a 3-1 advantage with a single down the left-field line, scoring Gill.
Nolan Smith then put down a sacrifice bunt, but AC first baseman threw the ball away trying to get DeLoach out a third. DeLoach would score on the play. Two batters later,
Matt Olszewski picked up the Comets' fourth single of the inning, scoring Neaves, and Smith was able to score from second base after the 'Roos' fifth error of the frame, lifting UTD to a 6-1 cushion.
The 'Roos answered with four runs in the top of the sixth on five hits and a walk, but left the game-tying and go-ahead runs on base. UTD took advantage and plated five more runs in the bottom of the frame on just two hits. Norris and Olszewski drew back-to-back walks to open the Comets' sixth, setting up an RBI double by
Nick Marti, giving UTD a 7-5 lead. A
Brandon George groundout to first then allowed Olszewski to score, pushing the Comets' lead to 8-5. Two batters later with runners at the corners, Gill's sacrifict bunt scored Marti from third, and Neaves capped the frame with a two-out, two-run double, scoring Vess and DeLoach.
Austin College would not go away, however, scoring two more runs in the top of the seventh, drawing within four runs, 11-7. But, UTD got both runs back in the bottom of the frame, thanks to RBI singles by George and Gill.
Marti finished the day 3-for-5 with a run scored and RBI while Norris, George, GIll, Neaves and Smith all had two-hit outings. Gill and Neaves were each 2-for-3 with three RBI. Norris was 2-for-5 with two runs scored and tied a school record with four stolen bases. DeLoach was hit by a pitch three times in the game, setting a new UTD single-game mark.
Alex Kuhn (1-1) picked up his first win of the season, tossing the third and fourth innings after starter
Aaron Bach tossed the first two frames. After Bach's hitless opening two innings, Kuhn also did not allow a hit, giving up an unearned run.
Michael Ward (1.2 IP),
John Quisenberry (1.1 IP),
Nick Cummings (1.0 IP) and
Matt McKennon (1.0 IP) each saw time on the mound.
The Comets return to American Southwest Conference play this weekend with a three-game series at rival Texas-Tyler. The two teams open the set at 6 p.m. Friday in Tyler.
