SAN ANGELO, Texas - Junior left fielder
Chris Benavidez hit a solo home run in the top of the ninth inning to give the UT Dallas baseball team a 9-8 win over #13/20/22 Angelo State at Foster Field Friday night.
The Comets (16-7 Lone Star Conference) have now won six of seven series openers this season. They outhit the Rams (16-7 LSC) 9-5.
UTD took a 3-0 lead in the top of the first.
Kole Kinnison recorded an RBI-double and scored on a wild pitch.
Jake Amoroso also drove in
Trent McCown in the frame.
Albert Garza and
Nico Fernandez posted back-to-back sacrifice flies in the second to go up 5-0. Payton Bush hit a three-run homer to left center to put the Rams on the board in the second. Chase Pendley hit a solo shot in the third to make it 5-4.
A squeeze bunt by Chris Bernal, plating Tate Greene, tied the game in the fourth. Miller hit a two-run single and
Austin Wallace drew a bases-loaded walk in the top of the fifth to give the Comets an 8-5 advantage.
ASU tied it in the bottom of the fifth after Brett Smajstrla two-run double and a Greene grounder that scored Smajstrla.
The game remained tied until Benavidez launched 2-1 pitch over the center field wall with two outs in the top of the ninth.Â
Tag Pacot allowed a walk, but otherwise shut down the Rams in the bottom of the ninth for his fourth save of the season.
UT Dallas Performances
- Benavidez' home run was his fourth of the season.
- Kinnison recorded two doubles and scored twice.
- Third baseman
Gavin Barker drew three walks and scored.
- Fernandez was 2-for-3 with the sac fly and run scored.
- Garza had a hit, RBI and a run scored. He was also hit by a pitch for the 31st time in his career, moving into second on UTD's list.
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Jake Amoroso also had two hits and RBI.
- Senior
Kasey Klyng (2-1) earned the win by getting the final two outs with two runners on in the eighth.
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Gavin Hickman and
Kole Allen also had scoreless outings.
Angelo State Performances
- Garrett Baumann (5-4) took the loss, allowing the home run in the ninth. He also struck out three batters in 1.2 innings.
- Bush was 2-for-4 with three RBI on the home run.
- Chris Bernal walked twice, drew a walk and stole a base.
- Greene scored twice.
Up Next
The Comets and Rams will play two seven-inning games on Saturday beginning at 4 p.m.
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