FORT WORTH, Texas (03.17.15) - The UT Dallas baseball team continued its winning ways, picking up its fourth straight win in a 12-6 mid-week victory at Texas Wesleyan University.

The Comets improved to 8-10 overall after jumping out to an early 8-1 lead and fighting past a mid-game rally by the Rams (12-11).

UTD scored five runs in the 3rd inning to take a 6-0 lead, and answered each time the Rams rallied. The Comets got 6-2/3 ininngs of shutout pitching from four of the six hurlers who took the mound for UTD. Freshman Matt McKennon was awarded his second win of the season after a scoreless third inning, but starter Zach Rubel and relievers Micah Easterling and Andrew Leilich also kept TWU off the board.
 

The top of the Comet batting order continued to rake at the plate. Jimmy Norris (2-for-4, 3 runs), Tim Cole (2-for-3, 2 runs, 2 RBI) and Brandeon George (1-for-2, 1 run, 2 RBI) tallied five hits and drove in four runs. Junior transfer Haden Johnson was 2-for-2 with three runs scored and two RBI while senior catcher Bobby Garner went 2-for-5 with a run and 2 RBI against six TWU pitchers.

The Comets took a 1-0 lead in the top of the 1st when Norris led off with a double and scored from third on a double-play ball. But UTD blew the game open with five runs on four hits and two errors in the 3rd. Singles from Garner, Josh Covey and Norris loaded the bases, setting the stage for a Cole squeeze bunt, a George sacrifice fly, an RBI double from Johnson and a Johnson run off a muffed throw on a Pierce Fly ground ball.

The Rams finally got on the board in the 4th, but UTD answered in its next at-bat. Cole got into scoring position after being hit by a pitch and a passed ball before coming home on an RBI single to centerfield by George. Johnson then brought George home with a sacrifice fly to increase the lead to 8-1.

TWU answered in the bottom of the inning, but the Comets came up with another run in the 6th. Norris walked and stole second before a Cole single to right field brought him home to make it 9-2.

A four-run 6th inning that included a home run and triple made things interesting as the Rams pulled to within 9-6. But once again, UTD had an answer. Garner deliverd a double that scored both Fly and Johnson and the Comets were ahead, 11-6, with just two innings left. Leilich came in and closed the door on TWU. Johnson manufactured a 12th run in the 9th when he was hit by a pitch, stole second and then third, coming home with the throw from the Rams catcher got past the fielder at third base.

UTD returns to American Southwest Conference play this weekend, hosting Texas Tyler in a three-game set. The first game is scheduled for 2 pm Friday with a noon doubleheader on Saturday.