IRVING, Texas - After taking Game 1 on Saturday, 5-4, the University of Dallas baseball team (25-11) completed a two game sweep of Trinity University (29-11) in dramatic fashion on Sunday afternoon with a 4-3 walk-off 10th-inning victory over the Tigers.
Junior right-handed pitcher Michael Byers (Manassas, Va./Seton Home School ) was brilliant in the start as he shut out the Tigers for seven innings. Byers surrendered only five hits, as he kept the Tigers' hitters off balance all day. The Crusaders broke a scoreless tie in the 5thinning with a solo homerun from freshman Andrew Bossert (Friendswood, Texas/Friendswood H.S.). Bossert's homerun just cleared the fence, with strong winds blowing in from centerfield.
Senior catcher Delano Ponce (Albuquerque, N.M./Albuquerque Academy) got things going for the Crusaders in the 6th inning, as he reached on an error by the Trinity shortstop. Freshman second baseman Mark Carlson (Hawthorn Woods, Ill./Home School ) then ripped a single through the left side of the infield to advance Ponce to second base. With two outs, junior center-fielder Brian Shelburne (Portsmouth, R.I./Portsmouth H.S.) smashed a single to centerfield, bringing in Ponce.
The Crusaders held a 2-0 advantage until the top of the 8th inning. Junior right-handed pitcher Michael Schweiss (Parker, Colo./Chaparral H.S.) replaced Byers to begin the 8th inning. After a double steal, Schweiss surrendered a two-RBI single, on which Shelburne nearly gunned down a runner at the plate. Both runs scored with two outs and Schweiss promptly induced a groundout to end the inning.
Dallas was held scoreless in the 9th inning, despite a leadoff single by Shelburne. After a strikeout, Shelburne was picked-off first base and the Crusaders failed to bring home the game-winning run.
Things fell apart quickly for Dallas in the 10th inning. After a leadoff groundout, Schweiss surrendered a double and the ensuing batter reached on an error. With baserunners on first and second, Schweiss induced a fly-out to sophomore right-fielder Adam Farris (Flower Mound, Texas/Liberty Christian H.S.) -- this allowed Early to advance to third base while Robusto remained at first base. On Robusto's steal attempt to second base, Ponce tried to catch Early napping just off of third base. Ponce's throw was poor and Early came home to score the go ahead run for the Tigers. Schweiss struck out the batter Pappas swinging to end the inning, but the Crusaders trailed 3-2 heading into the bottom of the 10th inning.
After a Dallas groundout, senior shortstop David Rettinger (San Antonio, Texas/Central Catholic H.S.) reached base on an error by the shortstop. Farris then singled to advance Rettinger to second base. With two men on base and a potential game-ending double play in order, Ponce delivered a clutch RBI single to the gap in left field, bringing home Rettinger to tie the game at 3-3. This brought up freshman Mark Carlson (Hawthorn Woods, Ill./Home School) in the biggest situation yet of his young collegiate career. Crusader third base coach Kyle Kilgo called for a safety squeeze and Carlson dropped down a perfect bunt to bring home Farris, the winning run of the game. The Crusaders' dugout erupted and raced out to home plate to mob Farris, whom scored, and Carlson, the hero of the game.
Next opponent:
Dallas will travel to Calif. two weekends from now to face No. 7 Chapman University in a three game series, which will conclude the regular season for the Crusaders.