Comets Rebound At Abilene Classic

UTD Rallies Past Southwestern, Former National Champ Marietta

RICHARDSON, TX - The UTD baseball team needed some good fortune after dropping three one-run games to open American Southwest Conference play over the weekend, and they got it Tuesday at the Abilene Classic Tournament, hosted by McMurry University.

UTD got some timely hitting from players like Jared Smith (pictured) and others, along with a strong showing from 10 different pitchers who shared the workload in the midweek games.

UTD got the game-winning hit from Smith in the bottom of the ninth inning to take a 4-3 win over Southwestern (TX) in its opener; then rebounded from a 6-0 hole after two innings in the nightcap to power past Marietta (OH), 10-7.

UTD 4, SOUTHWESTERN 3 (boxscore)

Smith and most of his teammates struggled for most of the game as Southwestern starter Wes Willis, who scattered seven hits and struck out 10 Comets in 8 innings of work. UTD did lead twice early. The Comets got an RBI single from Garet Norton and an unearned run to go up 2-0 in the 2nd; then Chad Hudson got UTD's third run in the 5th, scoring on a throwing error from the catcher as stole third. With the score tied 3-3 in the 8th, UTD ace Mark Cox (pictured) came in to work a couple of innings and picked up the win, allowing just one baserunner on a walk with two strikeouts. Neal Gordon scored the winning run for UTD when he reached on a fielder's choice, advanced to third on a wild pitch and passed ball with two outs. Smith, who had been 0-for-4 until that point in the game, then punched a soft line drive down the leftfield line to bring home the win.

UTD 10, MARIETTA (OH) 7 (boxscore)

The Comets looked to be overmatched early by Marietta, which won the NCAA Division II national title in 2006 and was in the national Top 20 prior to a new poll released Tuesday. The Pioneers (2-5), who had earlier in the day surrendered an early 9-1 lead in a 12-9 loss to ASC member UT-Tyler, jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the first two innings thanks to a Comet error opening the door to five unearned runs. But while the UTD offense slowly chipped away at the lead, the pitching combination of Tim Flasik, Adam Spinn, Jeremiah Valentine and Drew Waggoner limited Marietta to just one more run (also unearned) and one hit the rest of the way.

UTD finally awoke offensively in the 4th, loading the bases for a Chris Biguenet (pictured) grand slam and another unearned run to pull to within 6-5. Then in the 5th, it was Smith who delivered a two-run HR to give the Comets their first lead at 7-6. Marietta tied the score with an unearned run in the 5th, but UTD went ahead to stay with three in the 6th. Matt Kelly and Aaron Bolliver singled to open the inning, then scored on a Neal Gordon single. With two outs, Smith again came up with the big hit, driving a double to score Gordon with UTD's 10th run.

Adam Spinn picked up the his first win of the year for UTD, but Valentine and Waggoner were also impressive over the final three innings, allowing just one hit and striking out four.