RICHARDSON, TX (04.01.17) - Junior Ruben Renteria gave up just one hit and the Comet bats exploded for eight runs in the 5th inning of the seven-inning doubleheader opener Saturday afternoon against McMurry, assuring UT Dallas of another American Southwest Conference series victory with an 8-1 win.

The 12th-ranked Comets (20-5, 9-3 ASC), who had defeated McMurry 12-1 in the series opener on Friday; saw their bats go silent in the series finale, however, dropping a shortened 10-0 shutout for their first home loss of the season. McMurry, which is ineligible for post-season play due to reclassification, fell to 11-7, 5-7 ASC with the Saturday split.

GAME 1: UT DALLAS 8, McMURRY 1

Renteria (now 6-0) gave up his only hit on the very first pitch of the game, and the WarHawks were able to cash in for an early 1-0 lead. McMurry's Robert White sent a towering shot to left field that caromed off the wall. UTD left fielder Rodney Corbin, attempting to play the ball, fell and got his foot caught under the fence. White was able to scamper around the bases with an inside-the-park home run before center fielder Josh Covey could recover the loose ball.

While it took the Comet hitters five innings to get their offense rolling, Renteria kept things close by being almost untouchable - literally. He did not allow another hit to the WarHawks, striking out three along the way. The only blemish was a trio of walks, but he was able to strand all three of those baserunners.

Meanwhile, the UTD bats did come to life with a vengeance in the 5th inning. Trailing 1-0 and stranding baserunners throughout the first four innings, UTD sent 12 hitters to the plate in the 5th frame, pounding out six hits and taking advantage of a walk, hit batter and a McMurry error.  Josh Covey led off with a walk, and scored on a Barry Casey double to tie the game. A Connor Scruggs single put runners at the corners and Mitch Barati drove home Casey with the go-ahead run with another single. Then, with two outs, UTD loaded the bases and Isaiah Swann was hit by a pitch to make it 3-0. Rodney Corbin brought home two more with a single, then Covey drove in Swann to increase the lead to 6-0. Corbin eventually scored on a balk call, and Ryan Burciaga drove home Covey with the eighth run of the inning.

GAME 2: McMURRY 10, UT DALLAS 0 (7 INNINGS)

In the series finale, it was the WarHawks who got a dominant pitching performance from starter John Eric Cortez (2-3), and the Comet hitters never solved the riddle. Cortez went seven strong innings, scattering five hits and striking out four UTD hitters.

A three-run 1st inning set the pace, and McMurry added three more in the 4th with a three-run home run. McMurry added two more in the 5th with runs scoring on an RBI single and a third-strike wild pitch that allowed a run to score. Then, the WarHawks put the game in "mercy rule" territory on a "getaway game" with another pair scoring in the 6th off a wild pitch and a double steal.

The Comets, who used four different pitchers in the game, had just five hitters with single hits apiece.