JACKSON, MS (04.09.21) - UT Dallas opened an important American Southwest Conference series at Belhaven with a 9-1 victory Friday afternoon, thanks to a dominate complete game start from hurler Carter Cochrane. The Comets (14-8, 11-6 ASC) unfortunately couldn't keep the momentum going, dropping a close nightcap, 6-2.

With the split, the two teams - both chasing one of the top spots in the conference standings - remained knotted with 11-6 ASC records. The series finale is scheduled for 1 pm Saturday afternoon.

GAME 1: UTD 9, BELHAVEN 1

Cochrane (5-0) was the story in the opener, limiting the host Blazers (16-10 overall) to just two hits in the seven-inning contest. The veteran right hander gave up just a late run while striking out three and issuing no walks.

Meanwhile, the Comet offense jumped on Belhaven pitching early and often. UTD tallied 13 hits in the game and led 7-0 before the Blazers ever put a run on the board.

Cleanup hitter Zac Vorst sparked a 2-run 1st inning with an RBI double, scoring Ramon Garza; before Deylan Moreno's sacrifice fly brought home A.J. Liu to give the Comets an early 2-0 cushion. In the 2nd inning, outfielder Marcos Villegas launched the first of two solo home runs in the game. Then, Garza singled to score Keagan Vance and make it 4-0 after just 1-1/2 innings.

In the 5th, Moreno singled to score Vorst again, then came home himself on a Vance sacrifice fly. Hunter Cheek increased the lead to 7-0 with an RBI single to score Liu.

After Belhaven had cut the lead down to 7-1 in the 6th, Villegas went deep again for the final run. Villegas ended the game 3-for-4 with 3 RBI and two runs scored.

GAME 2: BELHAVEN 6, UTD 2

After erupting for 13 hits in the opener, the Comet bats cooled off in the nine-inning game. Still, UTD was holding its own in a 2-2 heading into the 8th inning. But in their final at-bat, the Blazers pieced together five straight hits, chasing Comet starter Blake Birdwell, and put the game out of reach.

UTD got single runs in the 1st and 2nd inning. Vorst singled to drive in Jacob Perry in the Comets' first at-bat; but Belhaven made the lead short-lived with an unearned run in the bottom of the frame. In the 2nd, Moreno gave UTD another lead with the team's third home run of the day. That 2-1 advantage held until the 6th where a leadoff triple from the Blazers scored to tie the game at 2-2.

Birdwell (2-2) took the loss, giving up seven hits and just two earned runs in a 7.0-inning start.