SEGUIN, Texas - The UT Dallas baseball team opened the 2023 campaign with a 3-1 win over Texas Lutheran at Katt-Isbel Field Friday night.

Both teams received votes in the two national preseason polls. The visiting Comets (1-0) opened the scoring in the top of the third when designated hitter Grayson Coltharp hit a two-out double was knocked in on another double by left fielder Kade Turnage.

UTD went up 3-0 in the fourth when Robert Hines and Luke Finn started the frame with back-to-back hits. A sacrifice bunt by shortstop Keagan Vance moved both runners in scoring position and Hines scored on an infield single off the bat of Andrew Skivington. Third baseman Dylan Bivins followed with a single up the middle, scoring Finn.

The Bulldogs (2-5) got on the board in the seventh when second baseman Aric Vasquez led off with a double and later scored on an infield hit by center fielder Payton Dahl. 

Comet starter Ryan Vera (1-0) went 6.2 innings giving up five hits, one run and two walks while striking out a career-high eight batters to earn the victory. Ben Price allowed two hits and struck out two to finish up the seventh innings and Jake Jennings threw five pitches in a perfect ninth to pick up the save.

UT Dallas Notes
- Eight of the 12 players used made their Comet debut.
- Coltharp went 2-for-4 with a run scored and a walk.
- Hines was also 2-for-4 with a run scored.
- Bivins, Skivington and Turnage each recorded a run batted in.
- Catcher Coleman Camp threw out the only runner trying to steal.

Texas Lutheran Notes
- Alec Sanchez and Vasquez each went 2-for-4 with Vasquez scoring the only Bulldog run.
- Dahl was 2-for-3 with an RBI.
- Joe Burch (0-2) went the distance on the mound, allowing eight hits, three runs and three walks while striking out 11.

Up Next
- The Comets will take on Texas Lutheran again in Seguin at 11 a.m. followed by a clash with Claremont-Mudd-Scripps at 3 p.m. Saturday.