RICHARDSON, Texas - The UT Dallas baseball team overcame a two-run deficit to defeat Hardin-Simmons 5-4 in the series opener at UTD Baseball Field Saturday afternoon.
The Comets (4-0) scored the first when second baseman
Albert Garza singled, stole second and was driven in by catcher
Nico Fernandez on a base hit to right center. The Cowboys (2-2) answered with two runs in the fourth with Jacob Hollingsworth leading off with a base hit, stealing second and later scoring on a wild pitch. Knox Wilson also drove in Jake Trapani in the inning.
A Baylan Vaughan single down the right field line that plated Bryson Baer gave HSU a 3-1 advantage in the top of the fifth. UTD took control of the game with three runs in the bottom of the frame.
Lucas Rexin reached on an error to start the inning and moved to third on a
Thomas Soto double.
Jaeger Self drove in Rexin, then scored along with Soto on a double from Garza to make the game 4-3 in favor of the Comets.
Center fielder
Austin Wallace hit an infield single and reached second on an error and later scored on a Rexin base hit to give UTD an insurance run in the sixth. Hollingsworth reached on an error in the eighth and crossed the plate on a Jake Trapani sacrifice fly for the final run of the game.
The Comets outhit the Cowboys 9-6.
UT Dallas Notes
- Senior starter
Apollo Cassimatis (2-0) went seven innings - his longest career outing - and fanned three batters with one walk, five hits and two earned runs allowed.
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Kenny Garza made his 50th career appearance in the eighth, allowing one hit and an unearned run.
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Derek Brieden picked up the second save in his career with two strikeouts and fly out in a perfect ninth.
- Garza led UTD at the plate, going 2-for-3 with with a double and two RBI. He was also hit by a pitch and stole his team-leading fifth base of the year.
- Rexin was 2-for-3 with an RBI for his fourth straight multiple-hit performance.
- Third baseman
Efren Munoz recorded a double - his fifth of the year - and extended his hitting streak to seven games dating back to last season.
Hardin-Simmons Notes
- First baseman Brock Calvlillo was the only Cowboy with two hits.
- Hollingsworth had a single, stole a base and scored twice.
- Jacob Martinez (0-1) took the loss, allowing nine hits, three earned runs and striking out one over 5.2 innings.
- Ethan Riley fanned two batters in 2.1 scoreless innings.
Up Next
The Comets and Cowboys will wrap up the series with a double-header at noon Sunday.
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