RICHARDSON, TX (03.05.22) - In a game ripe with playoff-type atmosphere, the 16th-ranked UT Dallas Comets rallied for a game-winning run in their half of the 8th inning Saturday to claim a 7-6 victory in the finale of a three-game American Southwest Conference series with Concordia Texas.

The two longtime ASC rivals battled for over 3-1/2 hours in a nip-and-tuck battle that saw UTD's Jacob Perry score the game-winner in the 8th on a second-straight hit batter after two singles and another HBP had loaded the bases for UTD in a 6-6 game with one out. Orion Drymond picked up his fifth save of the season in the 9th, though it also was not without drama.

UTD improves to 12-1 to start the season with an 8-1 record in conference play. CTX's record evened at 6-6, 6-6 ASC after dropping the series.

The series finale was all about opportunities - missed and otherwise - on both sides of the field. The two teams combined for 25 hits, nine walks and four hit batters, but stranded 21 baserunners between them, including both teams seeing potential big innings quashed by opponent double plays. The game featured three lead changes and three ties before the Comets went ahead to stay in the 8th.

There was only one error, but it was a big one. Down 6-5 in the 6th, Perry was the catalyst again. He drew a walk, went to second on a wild pitch, then took off on an attempted steal of third base. The throw from the CTX catcher, Perry and the Tornado third baseman all arrived simultaneously at the bag and the ball squirted loose into the outfield, allowing Perry to score what was the tying run at that time.

Perry and his top-of-the-order teammates - Ramon Garza, A.J. Liu and Marcos Villegas - accounted for 11 of the team's 15 hits . Ryan Vera picked up his second win of the season in a 2.0-inning relief appearance.

UTD looked like it might be smooth sailing early with a four-hit, three-run 1st inning that ended with a play at the plate. But starter Logan Murray didn't make it out of the 2nd inning after CTX countered with 3 runs of its own to tie the game at 3-3. UTD seemed prime to retake the lead in their half of the inning, but a double play kept the Comets off the scoreboard.

The Comets did finally go back ahead 5-3 with single runs in the 3rd and 4th inning. Villegas led off the 3rd with a double and scored on a Hunter Cheek sacrifice fly. In the 4th, Garza got a two-out single, moved to second on a wild pitch, and came home on a Liu single up the middle. It was then Concordia's turn to answer as the Tornados got one back in the 5th on a Shawn Huber home run and then tied the game an took a 6-5 lead with two more in the 6th.

Freshman Jake Jennings, who took over for Murray in the 2nd, shut down Concordia for 2.2 innings. Vera also was effective, earning the win after taking over with the score tied in the 6th and throwing two no-hit innings before giving way to Drymond. Drymond got himself in a little hot water late, walking two hitters in the one-run game, but got a foul out and two ground balls to end the threat.

The Comets now take a couple of weeks off from ASC play. They are scheduled for a non-conference home meeting with Southwestern Tuesday afternoon at 2 pm before heading to Florida to face three non-conference opponents over the weekend.