A failed comeback and an eight run inning highlighted the University’s baseball team’s troubles this past weekend.
The Patriots opened their season in the 2nd Annual Clements Fluids Easton Classic at Irwin Field with 9-8 and 12-7 losses to Mary Hardin-Baylor, and a 9-5 victory against The University of Texas at Dallas.
Mary Hardin-Baylor
The Crusaders slapped two runs on the board in the first inning off pitcher Matt Sparks on Friday night. Josh Fredrick’s two-run home run drove in Andrew White, who walked earlier in the inning.
The Patriots answered in the second. T.J. Martin’s single drove in Nathan Skeen for the team’s first run of the season. Austin Newell and Corey Henderson drew back-to-back walks with the bases loaded to give the Patriots a 3-2 lead.
Mary Hardin-Baylor regained the lead in the fourth inning a two RBI single by Doak Fleming. Fleming later scored on a single by Kyle Flynn. The Crusaders extended their lead in the sixth, scoring three more runs. Fleming picked up another RBI on a single to center field.
The Patriots cut into the Crusaders lead in the bottom of the inning. Aaron McCain hit a lead off single and later scored on a throwing error. Cody Jones drove in Henderson on a double to make the score 8-5.
The Patriots added a run in the seventh and two in the eighth. Jones hit a two run home run. The Crusaders scored one in the top of the eighth on a passed ball.
During the University’s first game of the season versus Mary Hardin Baylor, on Feb 5, Keenan Duke, watches the ball leave his bat after hitting a foul ball. The Crusaders defeated the Patriots 9-8 in the first game of the Second Annual Clements Fluids Easton Classic. Photo by Richard Sarmiento.
Keenan Duke walked to being the ninth and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Newell. Jones drew an intentional walk with two outs, only to be followed by a Nick Clifton strike out that ended the game.
The Patriots faced the Mary Hardin-Baylor again Saturday afternoon. The Crusaders scored four runs in the second and eight runs in the third inning, which proved to be all they needed.
Newell cut the Crusaders lead to five in the eight on a two RBI single, his sixth and seventh of the opening weekend.
UT Dallas
The Patriots scored runs in six straight innings against UT Dallas on Saturday morning. Newell scored the game’s first run in the bottom of the third on a double by Jones, who later scored on a single by Justin Juneau.
The Patriots added two more in the fourth on two Comet errors. Jordon Vierra and Jared Barnett scored in the inning. Both teams scored a run in the fifth. Juneau scored on a single by Vierra for the Patriots.
Newell picked up his second RBI of the season in the sixth on a double. Duke scored on the play to extend the Patriots lead to five. UT Dallas showed life in the eight, after the Patriots added their seventh run in the bottom of the seventh. The Crusaders scored four runs in the inning on six hits.
The Patriots answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning on a two run home run by Newell.
Logan Chitwood closed out the game for the Patriots in the ninth for the Patriots’ first win. Chitwood is a junior college transfer from Navarro Junior College.
Chase Willard earned the win, pitching 7.1 innings and striking out two. Willard is new to the Patriots team as well, transferring from East Texas Baptist during the off-season.
Preseason Honors
American Southwest Conference coaches, sports information directors and media members selected the Patriots as the preseason favorite to win the ASC East Division.
In a vote taken last week, the Patriots received 132 points and eight first place votes. Mississippi College followed closely with 131 points and ten first place votes. Texas Lutheran University is the favorite in the West Division. They received 174 points and 13 first place votes.
Nathan Skeen and Chitwood were selected to the “14 To Watch in the East Division.” Chitwood and Juneau were named as “Players to Watch” by Collegiate Baseball as well.
The Patriots plan to travel to Schreiner this weekend, before returning home to face Texas Lutheran on Feb. 19.
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