RICHARDSON, TX (03.06.20) - The UT Dallas baseball team erupted for five runs in the 8th inning Friday to break a 3-3 tie and cruise to an 8-5 victory over Howard Payne in the first of a three-game American Southwest Conference series.

A.J. Liu and Luke Richter both went 3-for-5 as the Comets (9-4, 6-1 ASC) completed the rally, storming back from a two-out, 3-3 tie in the 8th inning. Howard Payne (7-8, 4-3) got two runs back in their half of the 9th, but UTD closer Charles Bass held on for his second save of the season.

The two teams complete the weekend series with a doubleheader Saturday afternoon, starting at noon at the UTD Baseball Complex.

UTD started the game methodically building a 3-0 lead. Liu reached with two outs in the 1st, stole second and scored on a Richter RBI for the first run. In the 3rd, Liu and Richter both reached before Hunter Cheek singled to load the bases. A sacrifice fly from Deylan Moreno brought home Liu, then Kaden Ingram singled to the left side to score Richter.

Starter Blake Birdwell was effective, striking out seven in a 7.0 inning start, but a pair of unearned runs completed a Yellow Jacket rally that tied the game at 3-3 in the 7th.

But the UTD offense started rolling again in the bottom of the 8th. With two outs, Ingram reached on an error and Austin Adams followed that up with his first home run of the season, clearing the center field wall to put UTD back up, 5-3. After a walk and single, Liu singled again to score Chandler Boyd. Richter's single down the right field line brought home Allred and Nick Balley doubled to score Liu.