GEORGETOWN, Texas - The University of Dallas defeated Southwestern University 4-3 in a highly contested and exciting elimination game in the SCAC Baseball Tournament on Friday night.
Southwestern got on the scoreboard first in the top of the 3rd inning. Ross Meyer led off with a double to left field and took third on a wild pitch. After a walk to Charlie Garrett, Colton Shea bunted and the pitcher over threw first and allowed Meyer to score and give the Pirates the early 1-0 lead.
Dallas tied it up in the bottom half of the frame. Pierce was hit by a pitch to lead off for the Crusaders and later scored on a RBI ground out to third by Carlson to knot it at 1-1.
SU broke the deadlock in the top of the 4th. Tyler Herriage hit a one out single to left field. Later with two outs, Ross Meyer singled to right field. The ball got by the right fielder and allowed Herriage to score from first and put the Bucs up 2-1.
The Crusaders responded in the 5th to once again tie the game. Pierce drew a lead off walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and later stole third. He scored on a passed ball to even the game at 2-2. Dallas took the lead an inning later. Keele drove a double to right center to start the frame and advanced to third as Thorton reached on an error by the shortstop. Then Caluda hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score Keele from third and go up 3-2.
Southwestern would show their fight by rallying in the 8th. Will Burks led off with a single through the right side and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Herriage. Then Burks moved to third on a single to left field by Lance Gottardy. The run came home on a sacrifice fly to center field by Meyer to square the game at 3-3.
In the bottom half, UD got a one out single to left field from Caluda and Maness entered the game to run for him. Maness later stole second base and then scored on a single to left field by Pierce for what would become the game winning run, 4-3.
The Pirates' Ross Meyer led all batters and went 3-3, with 2 RBI, a double, a stolen base, and scored. Jake Pierce led the Crusaders as he went 1-2, with a RBI, a walk, a hit by pitch, and scored twice. Chris Schierhorn picked up the win, pitching 4 solid innings in relief of starter Joshua Crapps.
Dallas advances to play Austin College tomorrow at 3:30pm. Southwestern has been eliminated from the tournament and finishes their season with a record of 3-38.