The Dallas Titans opened their best-of-three semifinal series with a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Texas Elite on Saturday, rallying late to take a 1-0 series lead.
The matchup lived up to its postseason billing, as both pitching staffs kept offenses in check through most of the game. Texas Elite broke the scoreless tie in the fourth inning when Justin Moore delivered an RBI single, but the Titans answered immediately in the bottom half as Aaron Standley's sacrifice fly evened the score at 1-1.
Texas Elite regained the lead in the sixth after an error allowed the go-ahead run to score, putting Dallas in danger of dropping the series opener. The Titans responded in the bottom of the inning, however, as Greg Kolesar delivered the biggest hit of the game—a two-run single that put Dallas back on top, 3-2.
Stephen Patterson earned the Game 1 victory with another strong outing, allowing just two runs, one earned, over 6⅓ innings while scattering nine hits. Steely Gill closed out the final outs to record the save and secure the win.
Dallas totaled nine hits, with Jacob Calderon and Kolesar each collecting three. Kolesar's two RBIs proved to be the difference, while Standley drove in the Titans' other run.
Texas Elite also finished with nine hits, led by Justin Moore's 2-for-4 performance and RBI. Starter Mike La Londe struck out seven over 5⅓ innings but was tagged with the loss after surrendering the decisive hit in the sixth.
With the comeback victory, the Titans seized a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three semifinal series, moving within one win of advancing to the championship game.