03.01.08
Cox's No-Hitter Highlights Sweep of HPU
UTD Senior Throws First No-No In Program History As Comets Roll
RICHARDSON, TX - Senior Mark Cox faced just one batter over the minimum in tossing the first no-hitter in UTD baseball history Friday in the first game of a four-game weekend series with Howard Payne.
After topping the Yellowjackets, 2-0, behind Cox's gem, UTD rolled to a four-game sweep, taking the next three games, 10-3, 4-0 and 8-2. The sweep improved the Comets' season mark to 11-3.
Cox, a senior from Coldspring, Texas, mowed through the first eight HPU hitters in the first game in the series before allowing a walk to the No. 9 hitter, Chris Pucci. He then turned right around and struck out leadoff hitter James May to end the inning and was perfect the rest of the way. He finished with seven strikeouts while facing just 22 batters in the seven-inning game. UTD has had five pitchers throw one-hitters since the program began in 2002, but Cox is the first to shut a team down completely.
UTD only managed five hits itself in the no-hitter, but eventually got to HPU ace Adam Garcia with a pair of runs in the 4th off RBI hits from freshmen Chris Alfano and Garet Norton.
In the second game 10-3 win Friday, UTD used a 13-hit attack (six for extra bases) and seven runs in the first two innings to make a complete game winner out of David Shaw. Leadoff hitter Neal Gordon went 3-for-4 in that game with a double to lead the UTD attack.
Junior Drew Waggoner (pictured) didn't throw a no-hitter in his Game 1 start Saturday, but he was impressive with a 10-strikeout performance in a seven-inning, 4-0 win. Waggoner allowed just five hits and walked one while his teammates provided all the support he would need with two runs in the 2nd and 4th innings. Chase Whitehead went 2-for-3 in the game.
The Comets then made sweep complete in the second game Saturday by rallying from a 2-0 hole with eight runs in the 3rd and 4th innings. Gordon again had a 3-for-4 day in the leadoff spot, driving in three runs. Brad Buchanan went the distance for his second win of the season.
In total, UTD pitching allowed just 21 hits and five runs over the four-game series.