AUSTIN, Texas – Texas-Dallas rallied with four run in the final four innings to hand Concordia University Texas a 4-1 loss in the American Southwest Conference (ASC) series opener on Friday night at Tornado Field.
The Tornados (9-2, 6-1 ASC) took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning as
Estevan Hernandez scored on a wild pitch.
However, the Comets answered with two runs in the sixth and a pair in the eighth to hand Concordia Texas its first conference loss.
Tyler Dauer (3-0) tamed the Tornados' offense, as the right-hander allowed only one run on four hits over eight innings. Brandon Clounch (4) picked up the save after yielding only a single in the ninth.
Scott Weinschenk (2-1) surrendered four runs and seven hits in 7.2 frames of work. The righty also struck out six and walked one before being chased from the contest.
Texas-Dallas tied the game in the sixth when Nick Marti scored on a wild pitch from Weinschenk. Two pitches later, Clounch laced a single into left field that drove in the go-ahead tally.
Clounch started an eighth-inning rally that gave the Comets a pair of insurance runs.
With two outs, Clounch reached base after being hit by a pitch. Trevor Clifton then followed with a double down the left-field line that chase Weinschenk from the contest. After
Trey Pledger took over on the mound, Matt Olszewski cleared the bases with a two-run single on a sharp grounder that made its way through the right side of the infield.
Concordia attempted a comeback in the final two stanzas.
Jon McManemin came off the bench to record a pinch-hit double with one out in the eighth. However, he was stranded on the basepaths after Dauer retired
Cameron Cox on a groundout and Hernandez via strikeout.
Kyle Rodriguez reached on a one-out single in the ninth, but Clouch retired the next two hitters on groundouts.
The series will conclude Saturday with a doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
