RICHARDSON, TX (04.08.16) - Senior Aaron Bach struck out seven and only allowed an unearned run as the UT Dallas baseball team kicked off a three-game American Southwest Conference home series Friday afternoon with a 5-1 win over the Ozarks.

The Comets improved to 14-12 overall (5-8 ASC) with the win and will look to get back in the ASC playoff chase Saturday with a 12 p.m. doubleheader with the Ozarks, back at the UTD Baseball Field.

UTD scored early as Haden Johnson came home on a Mitch Barati sacrifice bunt in the 2nd inning, but the guest Eagles countered in the top of the 4th as Ozarks took advantage of the Comets' lone error in the contest. Freshman Ryan Burciaga gave UTD back the lead with one out in the bottom of the 4th with his second home run of the season before the Comets added three late runs to secure the win for Bach.

In the 7th, the Comets extended the lead to 3-1 with a one-out bunt single by Jimmy Norris and added a second run in the frame on a Tim Cole ground out. UTD tallied its final run in the 8th on a Barati single to center, again scoring Johnson.

Bach (4-4) tossed 7.1 innings while scattering nine hits and issuing one walk in a solid performance. Freshman Jordan Murphy took over with one out in the 8th and finished the game, picking up his first collegiate save. Norris and David McKenzie each finished 2-for-3 while Johnson was 2-for-4 with two runs scored.