SPOKANE, WA (05.19.18) - In a second straight pitcher's duel, the UT Dallas baseball was not on the winning side of a low-scoring battle Saturday afternoon as the Comets dropped a 2-1 decision to No. 6-ranked Texas Lutheran in walk-off style in the NCAA Division III Spokane Regional, held at Avista Stadium.

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After having two potential go-ahead runs gunned down at the plate by UTD outfielders in both the 8th and 9th inning, Bulldog Chad Curtis finally made it home on a two-out single from Eric Robinowitz to break a 1-1 tie and send the Bulldogs to the winner's bracket final against Willamette later this afternoon.

The Comets (31-16) will now face No. 15 Chapman in an elimination game tonight at 8 p.m. (Central). UTD will now have to win two games to have a shot at the regional final, and would need four consecutive wins to advance as the regional champion.

TLU starter Nathan Malivosky (11-1) scattered just five hits while striking out six Comets as UTD faced a second straight dominant starter, but again was matched pitch-for-pitch by UTD senior Ruben Renteria, who surrendered just one earned run in the 8.0-plus inning start, his longest outing in his two years with the squad.

The Bulldogs struck first with a 3rd inning run, using old-fashioned small ball. After a lead-off walk, a single and a sacrifice bunt, TLU grabbed a 1-0 lead on an RBI groundout by Ben Marvin. UTD finally tied the game in the 6th when Josh Covey singled to left and moved around the bases on a passed ball and wild pitch before scoring on a Ryan Burciaga ground out. 

The Comets had prime opportunities to take the lead in both the 7th and 8th innings, but had a runner picked off at third base on a failed squeeze play, then another thrown out at home, trying to score on a ground ball.

UTD will look to avenge an early-season loss to Chapman when the Comets return to the field later today. Chapman handed UTD a 9-7 defeat in the Comets' season opener at the Cactus Classic on Feb. 9.

The Comets are making their second-ever trip to the NCAA postseason, qualifying as a at-large selection in 2007. That season, UTD went 2-2 in the event, suffering both losses to Chapman.