University of Texas at Dallas Athletics

GEORGETOWN, Texas (02.22.22) - A six-run eruption in the 2nd inning spotted the 18th-ranked UT Dallas baseball team a big early lead against non-conference foe Southwestern (TX) Tuesday night, setting the pace for a 10-2 win.

Off to a perfect 7-0 start for the first time in program history, the Comets overcame an early 1-0 hole with six runs scoring on three hits, three walks and an error to put the Pirates (2-1) into catch-up mode right off the bat. UTD added a single run in the 3rd inning, then erupted for three 8th-inning tallies to put the game out of reach.

Shortstop Keagan Vance continued his early-season hot streak, tallying three hits while scoring twice with an RBI double. He was the only Comet with multiple hits, though A.J. Liu and Lucas Abbott combined for five RBI. 

Meanwhile, the Comets got effective pitching from four members of the staff, scattering five hits and striking out nine Southwestern batters. Freshman Derek Brieden (1-0) earned the win, throwing three no-hit innings mid-game with six strikeouts.

The game also marked the first appearance of the season for returning starters Jacob Perry and Hunter Cheek from the 2021 American Southwest Conference championship team, both of whom had been battling injuries. Cheek had a hit and scored a run while Perry scored twice with an RBI walk.

Walks were only part of the problem for five Southwestern pitchers who made an appearance in the game. The Pirate hurlers issued 10 free passes, one hit batter while the defense added three errors, all of which contributed to UTD runs.

Down 1-0 after the 1st, Zac Vorst and Andrew Skivington started the big 2nd inning with singles and Marcos Villegas followed with a 2-RBI double. After walks and a hit batter loaded the bases, two more runs scored on RBI walks before UTD went up 6-1 on a two-out, two-run error.

Two more walks set the stage for a Vance RBI single in the 3rd that made it 7-1. The Pirates answered with a single run in the 5th, but the Comets broke it open with a Liu double in the 8th that scored Vance, then scored along with Perry on another Southwestern error.

UTD returns to ASC play this weekend with a three-game series at Hardin-Simmons in Abilene. The first game is scheduled for Friday at 7 pm in Abilene.