ABILENE, Texas - The UT Dallas baseball team overcame a three-run deficit in the late innings to defeat Hardin-Simmons 9-6 in the first game of a four-game series at Hunter Field Wednesday night.

The host Cowboys (7-21) led 3-0 after two innings, due to a pair of errors. In the fourth, the Comets (27-4) got on the board when Trent McCown singled, moved to third on an error and scored on a Nico Fernandez ground ball. Jayden Chatman led off the top of the fifth with a walk and was plated on a Thomas Soto triple to right center. Albert Garza drove in Soto with a grounder to tie the game at 3-3.

HSU center fielder Justin Blancaflor hit a three-run homer to right center to give the Cowboys a 6-3 advantage in the fifth. McCown started the top of the sixth with a solo shot to left field to make the game 6-4.

Garza started a three-run seventh inning for UTD with a double. With one out, McCown was issued an intentional walk and Kole Kinnison drove in Garza with a double down the right field line. Fernandez put the Comets up 7-6 with a two-run double to right center. 

UTD added two more runs in the eighth on a Garza RBI-single, plating Jackson Montee who led off with a double, and another Kinnison double that scored Lucas Rexin. 

The Comets outhit the Cowboys 11-9 and drew more walks, 5-2. UTD also recorded seven doubles, a triple and a home run. 

Dylan Collins (5-0) earned the win on the mound, allowing nine hits, five earned runs and a walk with one strikeout. Ethan Vandament threw a scoreless eighth inning and Jake Jennings shut down HSU in the ninth for his sixth save of the year.

Reliever Jacob Posey (1-3) took the loss for the Cowboys.

UT Dallas Notes
- Collins improves to 5-0 and leads UTD with 39 strikeouts on the year.
- Vandament posted his 10th scoreless outing of the year.
- Jennings moved into a tie for fourth on the Comets' career saves list with nine. He has recorded 14 scoreless appearances this season.
- McCown blasted his 11th home run of the year, going 2-for-3 with three runs scored. He also drew two walks, including his fifth intentional of the year.
- Kinnison recorded three doubles and drove in two runs.
- Fernandez had three RBI with a double and a walk.
- Garza went 2-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored.

Hardin-Simmons Notes
- Blancalfor went 2-for-4 with the three-run home run. He also stole a base.
- First baseman Brock Calvillo was 2-for-5 with a double and a run scored.
- Quincy McGraw recorded a triple and scored.
- Brady Bennett gave up a walk with a strikeout in 1.1 innings of scoreless relief.

Up Next
UTD and HSU will continue the series with a noon double-header on Thursday.