SAN ANTONIO, Texas - The UT Dallas baseball team opened the four-game Lone Star Conference series against St. Mary's with a 4-0 shutout at Dickson Stadium Friday night. 

The Comets (6-1 LSC) benefited from a dominant performance from their pitching staff. Left-handed starter David Dean (1-0) threw seven innings, limiting the Rattlers (6-1 LSC) to three hits with four walks and four strikeouts. Gavin Hickman allowed a hit and a walk in a scoreless eighth and Tag Pacot walked one and fanned one in the ninth to close the door on StMU.

UTD scored three runs on three hits and two errors in the fourth. With one out, left fielder Chris Benavidez doubled to right, Nico Fernandez walked and Korson Hastings reached on an error to load the bases. Austin Wallace followed with a ground ball that scored Benavidez and Fernandez scored on an error on the same play. Albert Garza drove in Wallace on a single to left center. 

WIth two outs and two on in the top of the seventh, Fernandez plated Trent McCown on a base hit. McCown reached base after being hit by a pitch.

The Comet outhit the Rattlers 12-4.

UT Dallas Performances
- Dean retired 11 batters in a row between the first and fifth innings. 
- Garza went 3-for-5 with a RBI.
- Designated hitter Kole Kinnison recorded a double, as did Benavidez.
- Fernandez was 2-for-4 with a run scored, walk and a RBI.
- Freshman third baseman Gavin Barker went 2-for-4.

St. Mary's Performances
- Shortstop Raithen Malone had the only extra-base hit for the Rattlers, a double.
- Matt Mendez drew two walks.
- Brandon Vasquez (0-1) started and took the loss. He allowed five hits, three unearned runs and three walks with five strikeouts in five frames.
- Joel Burgess gave up seven hits, one run and struck out five in four innings.

Up Next
The Comets and Rattlers will play a pair of seven-inning games on Saturday beginning at 2 p.m.