RICHARDSON, TX (02.19.15) - The UT Dallas baseball team opened American Southwest Conference play Thursday afternoon with a pair of home losses to East Texas Baptist. UTD dropped its home opener, 4-3, before falling to Tigers, 1-0, in the second game.

The Comets (now 2-7, 0-2 ASC) will wrap up the three-game weekend series with ETBU (now 6-2, 2-0 ASC) with a single game at 12 p.m. Friday at the UTD Baseball Field.
 
Game 1 - ETBU 4, UTD 3
UTD starting pitcher Tyler Dauer struck out five Tigers en route to a strong seven-inning, complete game, however the Comet bats were held quiet until late in the game.  Dauer gave up four runs, only two of which were earned, on just four hits and three walks.

After a 1-2-3 top half of the 1st inning, the Comets loaded the bases with two outs after Brandon Clounch was hit by a pitch with runners on first and third.  However, UTD was unable to cash in on the opportunity as Tigers starting pitcher Zack Tampke needed just two more pitches to get out of the inning.

In the top of the 2nd, a single by ETBU first baseman Ben Beltran plated a runner from second as the Tigers took the early lead, 1-0.  The Tigers would add another run in the 4th inning and two in the 5th before the Comets offense finally came to life.
 
In the bottom of the 6th inning, the first two Comet batters reached on back-to-back singles by Brandon George and Nolan Smith.  Both runners advanced into scoring position on a failed pickoff attempt by ETBU, setting up an RBI groundout by Clounch to score the first UTD run. David McKenzie added the second score of the day on a double to left field before being brought home by a pinch-hit single by Kaleb Robinson. 
 
Trailing by one run, the Comets did manage to generate a baserunner in the final inning, but saw the threat and the game ended on a double play.
 
Game 2 - ETBU 1, UTD 0
The Comets again receieved a stellar pitching performance by their starting pitcher, as Clayton Buckner scattered just three hits across nine innings of work, allowing an unearned run.
 
The Tigers took advantage of a rare scoring opportunity and plated the game's only run in the 6th inning as ETBU capitalized on a Comet fielding error to get a runner on base.  Following a steal and a two-out single, the Tigers brought home the runner from third on a single to the right side. 
 
The Comets placed two runners on base in both the 6th and 7th innings, as well as one in the 8th, but could not piece together the offense to bring home any runs. 
 
ETBU closer Jimmy Russo came on to record a 1-2-3 ninth inning to close out game two and earn his second save on the day.