Box Score

FORT WORTH, TX: With two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, the Texas Wesleyan University baseball team (4-3) was able to load the bases but could not plate the tying run in a narrow 4-3 loss in their home opener against UT-Dallas (3-2) on Tuesday.

 

The Comets struck first, taking advantage of a Texas Wesleyan error and a two-run homer from Jake Wyand during a three-run first inning.

 

Meanwhile Marvin Prestige set down the first six Rams he faced before Vincent Winter led off the third inning with a single through the right side. Three batters later, Eric Epperson got the Rams on the board with an RBI single. However, Prestige was able to work out of a bases-loaded jam without further damage.

 

The Comets scored again in the fourth, this time without benefit of a hit. Jacob Starnes drew a leadoff walk, stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a sac fly from Chase Brown.

 

Texas Wesleyan threatened in the fifth, but Jason Holmes, who led off the frame with a double, was stranded at third.

 

Joseph Lassiter led off the sixth with a base hit and later scored on a single from Vincent Winter. Justin Padron doubled and scored on a sac fly off the bat of Holmes to cut the score to 4-3.

 

With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Epperson drew a walk and advanced to third on a pinch-hit single from Hunter Robinson. Garrett McFadden pinch ran for Robinson and promptly stole second. Lassiter then worked a walk to load the bases, but the rally fell short when Taylor Payne induced a game-ending grounder to third.

 

Prestige (2-0) picked up the win after allowing three runs on eight hits and a walk, while striking out eight in seven innings. Payne was credited with the save after recording the game’s final out.

 

Christian Mendoza (0-1) was tagged with the loss after allowing three runs, two earned, on four hits in one inning of work.

 

The Rams outhit the Comets 9-7, but UTD benefited from nine free passes. Lassiter and Winter both went 2-for-3 at the plate for Texas Wesleyan.

 

The Rams will return to action on Friday, when they host UT-Brownsville in Red River Athletic Conference competition. That doubleheader is scheduled for a 1:30 p.m. start at LaGrave Field.