After UTD scored a single run on an Elisha Settoon sacrifice fly in the second inning, HSU jumped on UTD preseason all-American pitcher Derek Dallas. Blake Sieck led off the inning with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Marcus Uechi. After a strikeout, Tarrant hammered a ball over the center field wall for a 2-1 lead in the third inning.

UTD tied the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the third on a Chase Brown RBI double. HSU scored a pair of runs in the fifth when Jay Hiller singled with two outs and Tarrant followed with his second two-run home run, this time it was shot to left field.

Jacob Price made it 4-3 with a home run to lead off the fifth inning. HSU responded with a run in the sixth on an RBI double by Jon Finney.

HSU added two unearned runs in the seventh. With one out, Hiller walked and Tarrant singled. Troy Nicholson reached on a fielder's choice and a throwing error loaded the bases. Bryan Blare then had an infield single to score Hiller and Tarrant scored on a muffed throw by the first baseman.

UTD added a single run in the eighth on a sacrifice fly by Kyle Guest and Tyler Brunnemann came on for the Cowboys to strike out Jake Wyand with two runners on base. Brunnemann then struck out the side in the ninth for the save for the Cowboys. He struck out all four batters he faced.

Nicholson was solid for the Cowboys on the mound. He went six innings, allowed three earned runs scattered six hits, while striking out five and walking none. Stewart Person went an inning and two-thirds and allowed an unearned run.

Tarrant was 4-for-4 with two home runs, three runs scored and four RBIs. Hiller had two hits for HSU as part of a 10-hit game for the Cowboys.

Dallas went six innings allowing five earned runs on seven hits, while striking out eight. Brown had two of the Comets' six hits.

It was the season opener for both teams and they will play a doubleheader at noon on Saturday.

--- HSU ---