EDMOND, Okla. — Trailing by a run in their final hacks, the UT Dallas Comets ignited a two-run rally in the top of the ninth inning to defeat Oklahoma Christian 4-3 on opening day. The comeback victory marks the first career win for head coach Travis Graves, who took the helm this season following the tenure of Shane Shewmake.
The Comets were picked 11th in the Lone Star Conference preseason poll, UTD (1-0) showed the grit of a veteran squad, overcoming a late deficit to spoil the Eagles’ home opener.
The Final Frame
The Comets entered the ninth inning trailing 3-2 and facing potential heartbreak in their season debut. Kole Kinnison delivered the equalizer, lining an RBI single to pull UTD even. Moments later, shortstop Jake Amoroso—who earlier recorded the team’s first hit of the year—blasted an RBI double to score Kinnison and seize a 4-3 lead.
Right-hander Tag Pacot was called upon to shut the door in the bottom of the ninth. And he did just that. Pacot threw 12 pitches, striking out one in a hitless frame to earn his first save of the season.
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On the Mound
Junior left-hander David Dean set the tone early for the Comets. Dean navigated through 76 pitches over four innings, allowing just one run on four hits. His final line included two walks, three strikeouts, and one hit batter.
The UTD bullpen saw a revolving door of arms as Graves tested his depth:
Christian Robb: 1 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 SO (24 pitches)
Kasey Kling: 1 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 2 SO (15 pitches)
AJ Ripley: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 1 SO, 1 WP (17 pitches)
Gavin Hickman: 1.1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 BB, 2 SO (21 pitches)
Hickman (1-0) earned the win for his scoreless relief effort, while Oklahoma Christian’s Jason Rickert was tagged with the loss. Collectively, the UTD pitching staff surrendered only four walks while racking up 10 strikeouts.
Season Outlook
Fourteen players from last year’s UT squad returned this season. Last season they posted a strong 32-6 record and a program-best .842 winning percentage.
Though they aren’t eligible for the postseason, the Comets aren’t short on motivation; they’ve set their sights on a regular-season conference title and sweeping the LSC individual awards over this 50-game stretch.
Player of the Game: Jake Amoroso
Shortstop Jake Amoroso set the tone early, hitting a single in the second for the Comets’ first hit of the season. But his biggest contribution came when the pressure was highest. With the game knotted at 3-3 in the ninth, Amoroso hit a go-ahead RBI double to make it 4-3.
He finished 2-for-5 with an RBI. Albert Garza and Kole Kinnison also had a two-hit game.
Nico Fernandez provided a spark earlier in the contest, driving in a run with an RBI single in the fifth to briefly give UTD the lead before the late-inning drama unfolded.
The Prospect Times congratulates Coach Travis Graves for his first win as Head Coach.