BROWNWOOD, Texas (03.13.15) - The UT Dallas baseball team got seven solid innings from starter Brandon Lee and held off a late rally by the Howard Payne YellowJackets for a 4-3 win in the opener of a weekend American Southwest Conference series.

Lee picked up the win for the Comets (5-10, 3-4 ASC) despite running out of gas in the 8th inning, when the YellowJackets (8-7, 3-6 ASC) rallied for three runs to make it a one-run game in the final two innings. John Quisenberry was able to come in for UTD, however, and shut HPU down by allowing just one hit the rest of the way.
 

Through the first six innings, Lee had given up just two hits and had a shutout going.

UTD, meanwhile, pounded out 11 hits against three HPU pitchers and built a 4-0 lead before the YellowJacket rally. The Comets' top three hitters - Jimmy Norris (2-for-4), Tim Cole (2-5) and Brandon George (3-5) - were a combined 7-of-14 at the plate.

UTD got on the board in the top of the 3rd inning when David McKenzie was hit by a pitch, went to second on a wild pitch and scored on an throwing error following a Norris single. The Comets missed a chance in the top of the 4th to add to the lead when George was called out for leaving third base early on what would have been a sacrifice fly scoring play.

UTD got the run back in the 6th to go up 2-0. Cole led off with a bunt single, stole second, then scored after back-to-back hits from George and Brandon Clounch.

The Comets then made it 4-0 in the top of the 8th. Norris singled, stole second base, then came home on a George RBI single to right field. Cole, who had singled, was able to move to third base on a rightfielder error and then scored what would have been the game-winner on a wild pitch.

HPU got three runs back in the bottom of the 8th, with two hits, a wild pitch and two walks. 

The two teams are scheduled to wrap up their weekend series with a 12 noon doubleheader Saturday.