AUSTIN, Texas – Solid pitching and timely hitting guided the 21st-ranked Concordia University Texas basebal team to a doubleheader sweep of Texas-Dallas on Saturday afternoon at Tornado Field. The Tornados won the opening game 3-0 and claimed the nightcap 8-2 to clinch the American Southwest Conference series.
Cameron Cox hurled a two-hit shutout in the first game to improve to 4-0 on the season. The right-hander, who faced only four over the minimum, struck out seven and threw only 87 pitches.
Concordia Texas (12-4, 7-1 ASC) scored two runs in the first inning when
Connor Bertsch cleared the bases with a double to left center.
Two frames later,
Luke Kress crossed home on a wild pitch to push the advantage to 3-0.
Cox took care of the rest. He allowed only two baserunners after that point, including only one that advanced to scoring position.
In the nightcap, the Tornados pounded out 15 hits, including three for extra bases.
With the contest tied 1-1 in the third, CTX erupted for three runs, including two on
Race Mellman's triple. An inning later, Bertsch pushed the score to 5-1 with a sacrifice fly.
Concordia added three more tallies in the ninth to take an 8-1 lead.
The Comets (4-9, 2-4 ASC) pushed across a run in the bottom of the stanza to cap the scoring.
Josh Smith pitched six innings out of the bullpen to improve to 3-0 on the year. The righty gave up only one run on two hits and fanned two batters.
The Tornados offense was highlighted by Kress, who collected five hits, and Bertsch, who had four knocks. Three of Bertsch's four hits were doubles, and the left-handed hitter drove in a trio of runs.
Concordia will return to action next weekend against Hardin-Simmons.
