Concordia Tops Baseball in Season Opener
February 6, 2009

The 12th-ranked University of Texas at Tyler baseball team fell in its first game of the 2009 season on Friday night, 5-3, to Concordia (Tex.) at Irwin Field, as part of the Easton Classic presented by Clements Fluids.

The loss marked only the second time in program history that the Patriots have lost their season opener. UT Tyler is now 3-6 all-time versus Concordia

The Tornados jumped out to an early lead in the first inning, scoring three runs off of three hits.

Concordia padded their lead further in the second and fifth innings by scoring one run during each.

After five innings of near flawless work from Concordia pitcher Michael Johnson, including eight strikeouts on the evening, the Patriots finally got on the scoreboard in the sixth inning after senior Jeremy Harding (Houston, Texas) hit a double to left center that scored senior Jared Hood (Marshall, Texas).

The Patriots continued to chip away at Concordia’s lead in the seventh inning when pinch runner Austin Newell (Kennedale, Texas) scored off of a Tornado error.

In the ninth inning the Patriots made one final run at the lead and received plenty of help from Concordia. The Tornados opened the inning by committing two errors and allowed the tying run to come to the plate.

UT Tyler inched closer to the lead when senior Chris Tucker (Flower Mound, Texas) drove in senior Chad Daleiden (Cave Creek, Ariz.) with a single to left field, bringing the go-ahead run to the plate in the process.

On the next at bat, Concordia’s Stephen Szkotak walked Hood to load up the bases and give the Patriots an opportunity to come from behind and win the game.

However, on this night it was not to be, as Szkotak struck out Harding to end the game.

Johnson picked up the win for Concordia, while Szkotak earned a save.

For the UT Tyler pitching staff, senior Brett Holland (Lindale, Texas) ended his 18-game win streak and picked up the first loss of his collegiate career. Holland allowed one earned run off of four hits and struck out one batter over four innings of work.

Senior Tommy Rozell (Chandler, Texas) entered the game in relief of Holland and struck out five batters while giving up just one run and no hits over four innings, as well.

In the day’s earlier game, Texas-Dallas rallied to beat Concordia, 6-5.

On Saturday, the Classic will feature three games with all four participating teams taking to Irwin Field. At 11 a.m., Trinity (Tex.) will take on UT Dallas, followed by a repeat of Friday’s opener with UT Dallas facing Concordia at 2 p.m.

Hosts UT Tyler will meet Trinity in the day’s finale at 5 p.m.

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