Box Score

RICHARDSON, Texas - McMurry scored all five of its runs in the top of the first inning and the bullpen rescued McMurry as the team defeated UT-Dallas 5-4 Tuesday at Field to move to .500 on the season.

McMurry improved to 15-15 overall in the American Southwest Conference crossover contest and is working to avoid its first ever losing season. After a 1-6 start, McMurry has posted a 14-9 record in its last 23 games.

Tuesday, Michael Dibiasi led off the game with a double and Dylan De Leon responded with an RBI single. Then, after a double play turned by UT-Dallas, McMurry scored four more runs with two outs and took advantage of three errors by the Comets' defense.

Andrew Bell, Brian Durst and Bradd Baker all had an RBI singles in the top of the first for McMurry as well and UT-Dallas held McMurry scoreless from there.

Markie Hall received the start on the mound but was touched up for two runs and he walked five in just two-thirds of an inning. However, Hunter Lane came to Hall's aid and pitched 4.2 innings out of the bullpen and allowed just two more runs. Then, Jordan Brown, Chris Maldanado and Cory Davis combined to hold the Comets scoreless the final 3.2 innings with Davis picking up his second save of the season with two strikeouts in the bottom of the ninth.

UTD picked up two runs off Hall in the bottom of the first to cut the lead to 5-2. Jacob Starnes scored on a double-play ball before Adam Hudec drew a bases-loaded walk to drive in Randy Lorber. The Comets added a run in the third on a solo home run by Joseph Killgore, and in the sixth, Clint Dunham singled to drive home Drew Hallford.

However, after Dunham's single, McMurry allowed just two more hits and the Comets couldn't cross the plate to tie the score. Lane picked up the win in his first decision of the season and struck out three without walking a batter. Mason Thompson picked up the loss for UT-Dallas to fall to 4-1 on the season. Dibiasi and Matt Thompson each had two hits apiece in McMurry's 11-hit performance at the plate.

UT-Dallas fell 15-11 on the season and McMurry will play host to Howard Payne in a three-game ASC West Division series in Abilene at Walt Driggers Field. The first game of the series is scheduled for Friday night at 7 p.m.