Monday, March 10, 2008

Dallas Baptist baseball goes 3-0 at UTA Invitational

By Pegasus News wire

UTA 5, Oral Roberts 1

DBU’s Baseball Team defeated a ranked team for the second time in as many games on Friday night after they defeated the #24 ranked Oral Roberts University, 5-1. Junior Jordan Meaker making his third start of the year led the Patriots to victory by pitching 8.0 innings, scattering four hits, allowing one run, and striking out five. The victory gives DBU a 7-3 overall mark, while ORU suffered their first loss of the year to fall to 7-1.

The Patriots started their scoring in the bottom of the third inning when Sophomore Ryan Enos reached base on a fielder’s choice and advanced to third off a single by Sophomore Austin Knight. Junior Evan Bigley then drove in Enos on a fielder’s choice ground ball, which brought up Senior Drew Pirtle, who singled to left field. With two runners on base, Junior Trevor head stepped to the plate and blasted a three-run homerun to give the Patriots a 4-0 lead.

DBU scored their fifth run of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning after Junior Clay Kelly and Enos reached base on a hit by pitch. Each runner advanced a base on a single by Knight and with one out in the inning Pirtle hit an RBI sacrifice fly to left field, which allowed Kelly to score.

ORU managed to score their lone run of the game in the top of the sixth inning on a solo homerun by designated hitter Kevin Groth.

Meaker improved his season record to 2-0 with the victory, while Junior Tyson Bagley continues to pitch well after he threw a scoreless ninth inning, including striking out one.

Knight led the way at the plate going three for five, with a double, while Head finished off his night two for four, with three RBI, and a run scored.

Dallas Baptist 10, McNeese State 8

DBU picked up their eighth win of the year when they defeated McNeese State on Saturday afternoon, 10-8. The Patriots improved to 8-3 overall, while MSU fell to 1-10.

The Patriots wasted no time and jumped out to the early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Sophomore Ryan Enos led off with a bunt single; he then stole second, third base, and scored the first run of the game on a wild pitch. Junior Evan Bigley then walked and stole second, which allowed Senior Drew Pirtle to drive in Bigley on an RBI single to right field.

DBU added a run in the bottom of the third inning after Junior Trevor Head doubled to lead off the inning. Sophomore Jason Krizan moved over Head to third base on a fielder’s choice ground ball and Head scored the third run of the game on a an error committed by the Cowboys third baseman.

Junior Clay Kelly started the bottom of the fourth inning with a walk, then advance to second on a sacrifice bunt by Krizan. Kelly then stole third base and scored on a ground out by Knight. Bigley then reached base on an error and stole second base to get into scoring position. Pirtle roped a single to right field, which allowed Bigley to score from second. After four innings of play the Patriots held a 5-0 lead.

The Patriots extended their lead to 8-0 in the bottom of the sixth inning on five hits, including five singles in a row.

The Cowboys tied the score up 8-8 in the top of the seventh inning when they chased starting pitcher Sophomore Ryan Goins from the game. Tay Freemen led off the inning with a double and advance to third on a single by Kyle Roth. Freemen scored the first run of the game on an error by Head, which brought up Brian Thompson, who hit an RBI single to left field. The Cowboys scored their third run of the inning on another single up the middle by Josh Cholley. With the bases loaded, Shon Landry drew a two out walk, which allowed Justin Beitzel to score from third base. Freeman came back up for the second time in the inning and hit an two RBI single up the middle, which allowed Roth to hit an RBI dink infield single to third base. Thompson drove in the eighth run of the inning on an RBI single up the middle.

Head gave the Patriots the lead back in the bottom of the eighth inning after he hit a towering two run homerun to left center field. Also scoring on the play was Junior Brandon Bantz, who was on second base because he it a double to left field.

Picking up the victory for the Patriots was Haney, who pitched 1.2 innings, allowing no runs, and striking out one. Bagley picked up the save for the Patriots after throwing 2/3 of inning, allowing no runs, and one hit.

Head continues to slap the baseball all around the diamond after he went three for five, with three RBI, and three runs scored. Enos, Bloodworth, and Pirtle each had two hits, while Pirtle had two RBI and one run scored.

Dallas Baptist 7, UTA 1

The Patriots won their fifth straight game on Saturday night when they defeated the UTA Mavericks, 7-1. The victory propelled the Patriots to a 3-0 record over the weekend and sole possession of the UTA Tournament championship. DBU is now 9-3 overall, while UTA fell to 5-9.

DBU started the scoring on Saturday night in the top of the fifth inning when Sophomore Ryan Thompson singled with two outs and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Junior Clay Kelly slapped an RBI single to right field, which allowed Thompson to score and it gave the Patriots a 1-0 lead.

UTA scored their only run of the game in the bottom of the fifth after the Mavericks managed to get runners to second and third base on a single and a DBU error. A two out RBI single to left field drove in the Mavericks run.

The Patriots put the game away in the top of the sixth inning after they posted six runs to extend their lead to 7-1. Sophomore Ryan Enos started the inning off with a single to right center and advanced to second on a single by Knight. Junior Evan Bigley moved the base runners over to second and third on a sacrifice bunt, which brought up Junior Trevor Head, who was intentionally walked. Freshman Jason Krizan then doubled down the right field line scoring Enos and Knight. Junior Brandon Bantz doubled to right center field, which scored Krizan and Head. Bantz scored after Thompson reached base on a UTA error and then Kelly drove in Thompson on a two out RBI single.

Starting pitcher Junior Chris McMullen had his best start yet after he went 6.1 innings, allowing nine hits, striking out three, and allowing no earned runs. Senior Wayne Dowling finished off the game for the Patriots after he threw 2.2 innings, allowing two hits, and no runs.

Kelly went two for four, with two RBI to lead the way at the plate for the Patriots. Seven other Patriots had at least one hit, while Krizan and Bantz each had two RBI.

DBU will be in action again on Monday, March 10, when they travel to Austin, Texas, to take on the University of Texas.

Source: Dallas Baptist

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