BOX SCORE

Austin, Texas – C.J. Riojas went 2-for-2 with a pair of doubles and drove in two runs, but the Concordia University Texas baseball team dropped a 4-3 decision to Texas-Dallas on Tuesday, March 1 at Tornado Field. The Tornados had a 3-1 lead in the late stages before the Comets scored three times in the eighth to escape with the comeback win.

Concordia was able to build up a 3-0 lead by plating one run in the first inning and two more in the fourth. Kris Pearce got things going with two outs by singling through the right side. After advancing to second on a wild pitch, Pearce scored the Tornados' first run on a single through the left side by Collin Janssen. Three innings later, Riojas belted a two-run double down the left field line which plated Kyle Bieschke and Robert Brown.

The Tornados had their chances in the next four innings to extend their lead, but the squad stranded runners at second and third base three times in the sixth, seventh and eighth frames. In addition, Brown grounded into a double play with runners at first and second to end the fifth.

Texas-Dallas (8-3) started to stage a rally by getting one run in the top of the sixth inning. Jake Wyand reached on an infield error, allowing Tyler Hobbs to come home from second after he led off the frame with a single to short.

The Comets continued to chip away at the deficit and were able to pull ahead by pushing across three runs in the top of the eighth. With the bases and loaded and nobody out, Grant Friddell forced the Tornados to make a pitching change by sending in the team's second run on a single to center. Guest grounded into a double play one batter later, which allowed the tying run to come in, before Hallford singled in what would stand as the eventual winning run with a blast to the left side.

After the Tornados left runners at second and third in their half of the eighth, Comet closer Calvin Campbell came in and shut the door in the bottom of the ninth. He induced a groundout and two flyouts to end the game.

Pedro Maldonado got the start and pitched six strong innings for Concordia. He yielded only three hits and one run which was earned while fanning eight and issuing one walk. Scott Weinschenk was tabbed with the loss and fell to 0-1 on the year after giving up three runs, including one earned, and three hits in one inning of relief.

Texas-Dallas' bullpen hurled 5 scoreless innings to allow the offense to rally for the win. L.A. Wong was credited with the victory, improving to 1-0 on the young season, by not allowing a hit in 1.2 innings of work. Campbell picked up his second save of the season by retiring the only three batters he faced in the last inning.

Concordia (6-5) continues its homestand when it hosts Ozarks this weekend. The two teams will begin a three-game series on Friday, March 4 at 7 p.m.
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Texas-Dallas (8-3)     000     001     030     4     7     1
Concordia (6-5)          100     200     000     3     7     3
Texas-Dallas: Cameron Brown, Taylor Payne (5), L.A. Wong (7), Calvin Campbell (9) and Colton Wood, Grant Friddell (9).
Concordia: Pedro Maldonado, Scott Weinschenk (7), Sean Thompson (8) and Collin Janssen.