The Comets outscored the Bulldogs 33-10 on across the three-game opening series.
After two strong games on Friday, Feb. 16, including a 15-run performance in the series opener and a comeback win in the second game, the baseball team completed the sweep on Saturday with a statement game. In Saturday’s 12-0 blowout performance, right-hander and transfer student Tobin Oler made a stellar debut performance in UTD’s third win. He threw seven one-hit innings to record the complete-game win, and every batter recorded a hit or RBI in finale of the opening series.
In game two, junior Dylan Collins got touched up for five runs on nine hits in five innings, but a strong performance from the bullpen – three scoreless innings apiece from LHP Caleb Vuono and RHP Dylan Hugley – gave the offense time to rally and overcome the four-run deficit. Leadoff hitter Luke Finn then walked the game off with a home run in the 11th.
Finn, named the ASC co-hitter of the week for his performance, was a key contributor in an offense that fired on all cylinders; he went a combined 5-12 in the series, achieving three home runs and a walk across two games on Friday. Sophomore catcher Nico Fernandez also had a strong weekend at the dish, going 4-8 with four RBI and four runs scored in two games of work.
The Comets showed off their pitching depth, which head coach Shane Shewmake highlighted ahead of the opening series, with contributions from both new faces like Oler and returning veterans like Vuono, Hugley and game-one starter Ryan Vera. If the offense continues to perform at the level of opening weekend, 2024 promises to be an exciting season for UTD baseball.
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