TUCSON, AZ (02.09.18) - With high hopes for the upcoming campaign, the No. 22-ranked UT Dallas baseball team kicked off the new year Friday with a pair of two-run losses against two of the top teams in the West Region to open the Cactus Classic.
The Comets (0-2) opened the 2018 campaign Friday morning with a 9-7 loss to Chapman before falling to defending NCAA Division III National Champion and No. 2-ranked California Lutheran, 7-5, in their second game of the day.
UTD will continue the Cactus Classic Saturday against Redlands at 11 a.m. and will close out the event Sunday against Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, also at 11 a.m.
GAME 1 - CHAPMAN, 9, UTD 7
The Comets jumped out to a 4-0 lead but could not hold on for a season-opening win, falling to Chapman, 9-7, Friday.
UTD snagged a 3-0 advantage in the bottom of the 1st, thanks to a Cougar error and a two-run single by
Thomas Craig and then added a fourth run in the 2nd frame on a
Ryan Burciaga RBI single. However, Chapman answered with a four-run 4th, followed by two runs in each the 5th and 6th to grab an 8-4 lead.
The Comets would cut the CU lead to a single run, 8-7, after a three-run 7th, but the Cougars added an insurance run in the 8th to secure the victory.
Burciaga finished the game 3-for-5 with two runs scored and an RBI while
Luke Richter was 2-for-5 with two runs scored.
GAME 2 - CALIFORNIA LUTHERAN 7, UTD 5
The Comets again opened up an early lead, but failed to hold on for the victory as they dropped a 7-5 decision to California Lutheran to close out the opening day of the Cactus Classic.
UTD got RBI from both
Thomas Craig and
Mathew Deacon to secure a 2-0 lead in the 2nd, but the Kingsmen answered with two runs of their own in the 4th.
In the top of the 5th, the Comets regained a two-run cushion thanks to
Barry Casey RBI single and a CLU wild pitch. UTD extended lead to 5-2 in the 6th on a
Josh Covey RBI single. However, the Kingsmen countered with a single run in the bottom of the 6th followed by a four-run 7th to rally for the victory.
Craig was 3-for-4 with an RBI while Deacon, Covey and
Connor Scruggs each added multi-hit performances.
