RICHARDSON, Texas – The Concordia Texas baseball team split the series-opening doubleheader with UT Dallas on Friday, picking up eight hits in a 9-1 game one victory before falling 9-0 in game two.
The Tornados' bats came alive in game one, led by
Dalton Watts with a two-run homerun and Mason Dubois with two hits, including a two-RBI double.
Otto Franz picked up his first victory of the season on the mound, throwing a six-inning gem that saw him limit UTD to one run on two hits.
After two scoreless innings, the Comets were the first to strike, taking a 1-0 lead with an RBI groundout.
The Tornados had an answer in the following frame, beginning with a leadoff single from
Aaron Gomez to set up the two-run big fly from Watts. Next, Dubois and
Kalen Moreno collected back-to-back hits, putting Dubois on third for an RBI groundout from
EJ Sanchez. After three and a half innings, Concordia Texas led 3-1.
In the top of the fifth, CTX tacked on two more runs.
Shawn Huber and Gomez worked back-to-back walks, putting two runners on when Dubois ripped a two-RBI double down the line. The Tornados extended the lead out to 5-1.
Keeping the pressure on, the Tornados added another pair of runs in the following inning.
Chris Varljen, returning to the field for his first game after missing the beginning of the season due to injury, picked up his second hit of the day and drove in a run with a single through the left side. Next, he came around to score thanks to an RBI single from Gomez, pushing the lead to 7-1.
With one last chance to tack on additional insurance, the Tornados offense came through. After a walk and a sacrifice bunt,
Kalen Moreno drove in a run on an error, and he came around to score when Huber was hit by a pitch.
The Tornados entered the bottom of the seventh with a 9-1 lead, and Jared Davenport worked around a hit to shut the door on game one. Concordia Texas began the day with a lopsided victory in game one.
In the nightcap, the Tornados scattered eight hits but were unable to push a run across, falling 9-0 to the Comets.
In the top of the first, the Tornado applied some early pressure as Gomez and Watts each picked up hits but were stranded.
Concordia Texas totaled five of its eight hits in the opening three innings, but the game remained scoreless until UT Dallas broke through in the bottom of the fourth, taking a 1-0 lead on a CTX error.
The fifth inning proved to be explosive for the Comets, plating five runs on seven hits and extending the lead to 6-0.
In the sixth, the Tornados put a pair of baserunners on thanks to a pair of UTD errors, but were unable to bring them home in the inning.
UT Dallas piled on another run in the bottom half, extending the lead out to 7-0 with an RBI single.
In the seventh, the Comets added the final two runs of the contest on two hits. The Tornados were retired in order in the eighth and ninth innings, and ultimately the Comets took game two 9-0.
The series will continue with the rubber match on Saturday as the Tornados look to take a series victory. First pitch is set for 12 p.m. at UTD Baseball Field in Richardson, Texas.
