AUBURNDALE, FL (03.11.22) - The 9th-ranked UT Dallas baseball team improved its season record to 14-1 with an offensive onslaught in a 12-6 win over Southern Maine, another Top 25 team, to open the Russmatt Central Florida Invitational Friday afternoon.

The Comets jumped out to an early lead over the 19th-ranked Huskies (1-3), and pulled away in the middle innings in their first of four games this weekend. UTD, which was originally scheduled to meet Wheaton (MA) in the opener, had to adjust their schedule at the last minute when Wheaton was delayed by weather along the East Coast. UTD is scheduled to play a pair Saturday in Leesburg, starting with a 2:00 pm (Central) meeting with Spalding and a 5:30 game with William Paterson.

Ramon Garza led a 14-hit attack with three hits, including a triple. Designated hitter Zac Vorst returned from injury to power a three-run home run and Marcos Villegas and Keagan Vance drove in a combined five runs. UTD stranded a season-high 12 runners despite the one-sided score.

Ryan Vera (3-0) faced only two hitters, but picked up his third win of the season with a big strikeout to end a bases-loaded Huskies threat in the 5th.

Garza scored UTD's first run in the 1st, reaching on a triple to right center, then scoring on a Villegas single. A.J. Liu and Villegas singled in the 3rd, setting the stage for Vorst's three-run blast that gave the Comets a 4-0 start. After Southern Maine cut the lead down to 4-2 in the 3rd, UTD picked up another run in the 5th by loading the bases for an Andrew Skivington sacrifice fly.

But the Huskies came to life in the 5th with a three-hit inning against UTD starter Dylan Hugley. After two had crossed the plate and the tying and go-ahead runs worked into scoring position, Vera came in and got the strikeout to end the threat.

UTD answered immediately, stretching the lead to 7-4 in the 6th with a pair of runs. Jacob Perry showed his speed to score the second run of the inning, laying down a bunt single, then racing to third on a throwing error, and coming home on a wild pitch. The Comets then blew the game open with a four-run 7th. After a pair of hit batters and a Skivington single loaded the bases, Villegas brought all three home with a double down the left field line. A Garza single to left later plated Vance with another run.

UTD, which benefited from 10 free passes through hit batters and walks, scored its final run in the 9th on an RBI walk before Kenny Garza ended the game for Southern Maine with a pair of strikeouts.