Daily Skiff

The baseball team improved its record on the young season to 3-1 Tuesday night, winning its home opener against Dallas Baptist University 6-0.

The long ball was the driving force behind the majority of The Horned Frogs' scoring, as four of the team's six runs came off of home runs. Senior Matt Vern drew first blood in the bottom of the second inning, going deep to left to score the game's first two runs. Freshman Jason Coats hit an identical two-run shot in the bottom of the third, driving in junior Matt Curry.

The Horned Frogs added to their lead in the bottom of the fourth when senior Ben Carruthers stroked a single into left, bringing Vern in to score from second. Going 2-for-5, Carruthers extended his hit streak to four games.

Junior right hander Steven Maxwell got his first win of the year, pitching five scoreless innings with two hits, five strikeouts and no walks. He made his first start of the season and is coming off a lost 2008 season due to an arm injury.

Maxwell said he was glad to be back contributing to the team's success.

"Everything felt normal," Maxwell said. "I went out with a plan of my own and did my routine."

Junior Ryan Millard picked up the loss for the Patriots, pitching four innings with six hits and four earned runs. Millard had one strikeout and two walks.

The last two innings were pitched by Horned Frog newcomers Walker Kelly and Erik Miller, both throwing hitless innings. Kelly needed just 10 pitches to down the Patriot hitters he faced.

The Horned Frog pitching staff combined to allow just three hits on the night, and the defense committed just one error. DBU allowed seven hits and had two errors.

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