IRVING, Texas – The University of St. Thomas baseball team won its second consecutive conference game Friday, defeating UDallas 12-9 to open a three-game weekend series.
Erik Garza went 3-for-5 with a home run and five RBIs to lead the Celts (13-22, 7-9 SCAC) at the plate. Leo Galvan went 1-for-2 with two RBIs, three walks, and three runs scored, while Tristin Pitkin also collected three hits and scored thrice for the Celts.
Starting pitcher Landon Murray struck out eight batters over five and two-thirds innings to pick up the win for UST. Josh Middleton struck out two Crusader batters during a 1-2-3 ninth inning to earn his first save of the season.
The Celts loaded the bases and proceeded to score five runs in the top of the first inning. Garza hit a single that scored Cameron McClure, which was followed by Brandon Herrera drawing a walk that scored Pitkin. UST added three more when Knight Newcomb's fly ball was mishandled by the UDallas outfield, allowing three more runners to score.
Garza hit a three-run home run in the top of the fifth, and then accounted for the third UST run of the sixth with a single that scored Galvan. Galvan reached base in the frame with a two-RBI triple.
The Celts' 11-1 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth was enough to fend off a rally by the home team. The Crusaders plated five in the bottom of the inning, thanks in part to a grand slam, and then added three more in the eighth to cut UST's lead to 11-9.
Newcomb added an insurance run with a solo home run in the top of the ninth.
With the win, the Celts moved a half-game behind Southwestern for the fourth and final playoff berth into the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament. Southwestern (16-15, 7-8 SCAC) will have opened a three-game series at third-place Centenary (20-13, 10-5 SCAC) by the time of this article's publication Friday.
Meanwhile, the Celts handed UDallas (9-22, 3-13 SCAC) its 13th consecutive loss.
The series between the SCAC's two Catholic institutions concludes Saturday with a doubleheader. First pitch at UDallas' baseball field will thrown at noon.
