RICHARDSON, Texas – The Southwestern University Pirates baseball team surrendered a big sixth inning in a 9-6 loss to the University of Texas-Dallas Comets.

Southwestern built an early 2-1 lead in the second inning, scoring on a RBI-single up the middle by Seth Sparks, scoring Colby Schmidt, who reached on a walk and advanced to second on a passed ball. Ted Lobkowicz scored Sparks on a groundout to shortstop.

The Comets responded with a Patch Healy RBI groundout, scoring Ryan Burciaga for their first run.

Daniel Montgomery Jr. and Byron Dowdell II hit two solo homeruns in the top of the fifth and Sparks drove in Ethan Hallmark with a RBI-single, giving Southwestern a 5-1 lead. UT-Dallas added two of their own in the bottom of the inning, scoring on a wild pitch and an error.

Dowdell II added another Southwestern run in the sixth with a RBI-single to center field.

Southwestern starting pitcher Aaron Clark ran into control problems in the sixth, hitting the leadoff batter and walking the next with the Comets advancing both to second and third with a bunt; scoring one on a sacrifice fly by Peyton Becker.

Two more walks loaded the bases, ending Clark's afternoon with Trey Schwarz replacing him. Jacob Perry responded with a three-RBI double and Thomas Craig scored Perry on a single up the middle for a 8-6 Comet lead. Dylan Palmer added a RBI-single in the bottom of the seventh and the Pirates were held scoreless over the final three innings.

Sparks led the Pirates offensively, hitting 4-for-5 with two RBI and one run scored. Hallmark was 3-for-5 with a run scored. Montgomery was 2-for-4 and Dowdell II was 2-for-5 with each getting a homerun. With the loss, the Pirates drop to 10-5 on the season.

The Pirates will play Wisconsin-Platteville on Thursday, March 21 in Tyler, Texas.