Pitching Sets Tone for Crusaders in Both Wins at Dallas Christian on Friday
DALLAS, Texas - The University of Dallas baseball team swept its doubleheader against Dallas Christian College on Friday. The Crusaders started on a sluggish note in Game 1, but the bats woke up in the sixth inning as the team combined to score six runs and eventually go on to win 8-1. Conrad Voss (Corona, Calif.) shut down the DCC bats only allowing one hit.
In Game Two Ruggeri Thomas kept the Dallas offense in check most of the game, but UD gathered three runs off of two hits to gather the 3-0 victory. Zachary Taylor (Humble, Texas) did his job and more by pitching five innings and only allowing three hits. Taylor kept his perfect record alive on the mound as UD collected its first shutout since 2017, when Dallas beat Schreiner University 9-0.
(Game 1 Information) (7 innings)
Team Scores: Dallas (8), Dallas Christian (1)
Team Records: Dallas (8-4), Dallas Christian (3-17)
Pitcher Records: W) Conrad Voss (4-1), L) Casey Morrow (0-2)
After a sluggish start for both teams Dallas was able to break the 0-0 tie in the third inning. Mark Peterson (Cincinnati, Ohio) led the frame off with a double to center field. Michael Jaquez (Irving, Texas) then followed that up with a walk. Jordan Stickler (Grand Rapids, Mich.) took advantage of the opportunity at hand by ripping a base hit up the middle to allow Peterson to score. With two outs in the fifth inning, Josh Abalos (Lewisville, Texas) was able to reach base via an error. He would eventually come all the way around to score after two more home errors to put UD up 2-0.
In the sixth, the Dallas bats woke up. With two men on base with one out, Taylor doubled through the right side as he drove in two runs. Taylor then stole third. Peterson kept the line moving by singling to right to allow Taylor to score. DCC was finally able to record the second out of the inning, but Dallas was not done yet. Jaquez, Stickler, and Abalos loaded up the bases. Nathan Patton (McKinney, Texas) then drew the base on balls and RBI. Jessup Scott (Lewiston, Idaho) wanted to join in on the offensive burst as he singled in two more runs. UD would eventually take an 8-0 lead into the final inning.
Gabe Benza broke up the shutout in the final inning after he grounded out to the shortstop but drove in a run to put DCC on the board. Nick Goehring (Phoenix, Ariz.) finished off the final inning on the mound.
Voss pitched tremendously for the Crusaders. His final line was 6 innings pitched, giving up just one hit and walking two batters. Voss also struck out five men and at one point retired 10 batters in a row (perfect 3-5 innings). Taylor helped lead UD with two RBI and scoring one run. Scott contributed two RBI. Stickler had a 2-3 day at the plate with one RBI and one stolen base. Peterson added a 2-4 effort at the plate with a RBI.
Taylor swiped third base in the game for his second career stolen base.
SOCIAL MEDIA
#UDCrusaders WIN! 8-1 (F/7) in game 1 at Dallas Christian!
— UDallas Athletics (@UDallasSports) March 1, 2019
- Voss (6 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 5 K)
- Peterson (2-4, 2B, RBI)
- Stickler (2-3, RBI, R, SB)
- Taylor (1-4, 2B, 2 RBI, R, SB)
- Scott (1-3, 2 RBI)#WeAreUD #d3baseball pic.twitter.com/47jc8kDLDq
(Game 2 Information) (7 innings)
Team Scores: Dallas (3), Dallas Christian (0)
Team Records: Dallas (9-4), Dallas Christian (3-18)
Pitcher Records: W) Zachary Taylor (3-0), L) Ruggeri Thomas (1-1)
Thomas cooled off the Dallas bats in Game Two. He held Dallas to just two hits and two walks in the contest. Both teams were held scoreless through the first three innings. Stickler lead off the fourth inning with a double to put the Crusaders first run in scoring position. After advancing to third on the fielder's choice by Abalos, Patton then pushed across the first run for UD after his sacrifice fly to center. Dallas shut down the DCC attack in the bottom half of the inning.
In the top of the 5th, Luke Boylson (Fairview, Texas) blasted a homerun to left center for his third long ball on the season. Jaquez led off the sixth inning with a leadoff walk. He proceeded to steal second. Stickler then walked and Jaquez advanced to third on the wild pitch. Abalos gathered a sacrifice fly to bring in Jaquez for the third run of the game.
Stickler and Boylson produced the two hits for UD. Stickler and Jaquez each stole a base in Game Two. Taylor struck out three men in five innings of work on the mound. Tyler Montemayor (Boerne, Texas) notched his third save on the year pitching two innings and allowing no hits.
Dallas now has five team saves on the year, which is the most since the 2014 campaign. That year the team also had five saves.
SOCIAL MEDIA
#UDCrusaders WIN! 3-0 final as Montemayor slams the door with his 3rd save by retiring all 6 guys he faced to preserve the first #UDallasBASE shutout this season!#WeAreUD #d3baseball pic.twitter.com/7PsIRxLg3E
— UDallas Athletics (@UDallasSports) March 2, 2019
UP NEXT
Dallas will go for the series sweep tomorrow (Mar. 2) as they host Dallas Christian College at Crusader Field. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. weather permitting.