Offense catches fire in series victory over Austin College

Baseball is a funny game as the results of back to back games between two teams can produce such opposite results. Saturday afternoon was a prime example of that as the Crusaders first lost to the Austin College ‘Roos, 10-4, before defeating the ‘Roos, 11-1 in the home doubleheader. Dallas took the rubber match of the series on Sunday afternoon in Sherman, Texas, defeating Austin College 14-10.

The Crusaders week began with a single 9 inning game against East Texas Baptist University on Tuesday (4/5). Dallas defeated ETBU, 15-1, as sophomore Andrew Laux (1-2) picked up the win as he scattered 5 hits and surrendered only 1 earned run in 7 solid innings of work. Junior Chris Schierhorn retired the final six batters of the game in order.

Dallas repeatedly made the Tigers’ pitchers pay for pitches over the plate, totaling 20 hits on the afternoon. The Crusaders scored 2 runs in the 2^nd inning, 3 runs in the 3^rd inning and 5 runs in both the 4^th and 5^th innings. Highlights included freshman Andrew Bossert’s 3 run home run, his second of the year and an incredible double play started by senior shortstop David Rettinger.

The first game of Saturday’s doubleheader proved to be an offensive nightmare for the Crusaders. It was not that the Dallas offense did not collect hits, but rather that the Crusader offense could not find a clutch hit. Dallas stranded 11 batters, including bases loaded situations in back to back innings. The highlights of the 10-4 Crusader lose included Bossert and sophomore Adam Farris combining to go 7-for-8 at the plate and junior Joel “Steven” Hansen throwing 3.2 innings of solid relief.

Between the first and second game of the doubleheader, head coach Fraser Holmes gave his team and talk on the mentality necessary to collect “clutch hits.” Junior centerfielder Brian Shelburne stated, “I think it was important to hear it from coach.” Shelburne added that the team “hadn’t executed (offensively) like we practiced.” Furthermore, Shelburne noted the importance of the young hitters hearing coach’s attitude on clutch hitting.

The results of Game 2 of the doubleheader seem to indicate that Coach Holmes’ pep talk on clutch hitting was effective as the Crusaders tallied 11 runs on 12 hits en route to an 11-1 victory. Before the offense batted, junior Michael Byers (6-2) took the mound for the Crusaders. Byers took a perfect game into the 5^th inning before losing it on a leadoff single. Byers “hitting his spots was big for the defense,” stated Shelburne.

Offensively, the bats “came alive” as four Crusaders tallied multi-hit games. The bottom half of the order came up big for Dallas as Rettinger and DH Nico Caluda combined for 3 runs scored, 5 hits and 6 runs batted in (RBI). Senior catcher Delano Ponce had a good day at the plate as well, going 2-for-3 with 2 RBIs.

The Crusaders kept the offensive machine clicking on Sunday afternoon in Sherman, Texas as they scored 14 runs on 14 hits in their 14-10 victory over the ‘Roos. With the game knotted 4-4 in the 4^th inning, Coach Holmes called on the reliable junior Michael Schweiss (7-1). Schweiss shut down the Austin College offense for 3 innings, allowing only 2 hits while striking out 3 batters. The Dallas offense put 6 runs on the board while Schweiss was in the game, giving him a 10-4 lead and his 7^th victory of the season. Schierhorn and Laux combined to throw the final 3 innings of the game.

Shelburne ignited the Crusaders offense with a double in the 1^st inning before he scored on a throwing error by Austin College. The Crusaders scored in every inning after that besides the 4^th and 9^th innings. As Coach Holmes stated after Sunday’s victory, “Once the offense caught fire, you just couldn’t put it out.”

The 8^th and 9^th hitters, Ponce and freshman Mark Carlson, combined for 3 runs, 3 hits and 4 RBIs in Sunday’s victory. Sophomore Trevor Allred, Rettinger, Ponce and Carlson each homered for the Crusaders whose game typically consists of small ball. Holmes praised the bottom of the batting order’s effort. “It was good that a lot of guys stepped up,” said Holmes. “That speaks loudly about the team as a whole.”

The Crusaders’ next opponent is ETBU who they will play on Tuesday (4/12). Dallas will then face #18 Trinity at home on Saturday (4/16) for a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 PM. Dallas will honor several graduating seniors on Saturday’s Senior Day.