MARSHALL, TX (03.08.19) -   The UT Dallas baseball team earned a split on the opening day of an American Southwest Conference weekend series at East Texas Baptist, holding on for an 8-6 win in the nightcap after dropping the opener Friday afternoon at ETBU's Tiger Field.

The two teams, even at 2-3 in conference play after the Friday split, meet in the series finale Saturday at 1 pm. UTD improved to 7-10 on the season while ETBU is 9-7.

GAME 1: ETBU 11, UTD 3 (7 innings)

The Comets fell behind 6-0 in the series opener before they ever got on the board as the Tigers sent four home runs over the short fences in the seven-inning game.

A walk and the first long-ball put UTD in a 2-0 hole in the 1st inning. A leadoff home run made it 3-0 in the bottom of the 2nd inning and another homerun - coupled with a Comet error - plated three in the 3rd. UTD, meanwhile, had just three hits through the first five innings and stranded four runners before finally breaking through with a two-run 6th. A Ryan Burciaga triple to deep center field scored Thomas Craig, then Burciaga was able to circle the bases on an errant relay throw to cut the deficit to 6-2. 

But ETBU responded with a five-hit, five-run bottom of the 6th, chasing starter Blake Bihm (1-3), who struck out three in 5.1 innings. Six UTD batters managed just a single hit against ETBU starter Derrick Findley, who gave up just one earned run and struck out five for the Tigers.

GAME 2: UTD 8, ETBU 6

Ryan Burciaga led the way with four hits, including a three-run homer, and Logan McPherson shut the door with two innings of scoreless relief as the Comets held off the Tigers to earn the split in Game 2. ETBU actually loaded the bases in the bottom of the 9th and had the tying runs in scoring position when McPherson coaxed a popup that Burciaga caught for the final out to earn his second save of the season.

The Tigers again jumped out to an early lead, scoring three runs in the first two frames before UTD cut the lead down to 3-2 in the 4th, loading the bases for an Austin Blanford sacrifice fly and Dylan Palmer RBI single. In the 5th, UTD charged ahead, plating four runs on five hits that included home runs from both Burciaga and Blanford.

ETBU chipped away and chased starter and winning pitcher Blake Divalerio (2-1) with single runs in their next three innings to cut UTD's lead down to 7-6 in the 7th after UTD had added to its totals with another Burciaga score with a triple and wild pitch. But UTD leading hitter Thomas Craig gave the Comets a little insurance in the top of the 8th scoring on a Burciaga single after doubling to left.

McPherson took over on the mound in the 8th, and got out of a jam with runners at the corners with a strikeout. In the bottom of the 9th, the Tigers again loaded the bases with a walk, single and intentional walk, but McPherson got the final out on a popup that Burciaga squeezed behind the first base bag.

Burciaga's final line was 4-for-5 with three runs scored and 4 RBI. Blanford was a perfect 3-for-3 with 2 RBI while Craig and Matt Mikusek had a pair of hits each.