May 17, 2003
GAINESVILLE, Florida...The University of Texas at Arlington softball squad's impressive season came to an end Saturday afternoon after the Lady Mavs were eliminated from the Division I NCAA Regional hosted by the University of Florida. UTA fell into the losers bracket after dropping its first game today to nationally ranked Oklahoma, 6-2, and was sent home after a heartbreaking 2-0 loss to sixth seeded Oregon State.
A solo homerun in the top of the sixth frame broke open a scoreless defensive battle between two squads fighting to advance to the regional finals. Oregon State took a 1-0 lead after Adrienne Alo knocked the ball over the center field fence.
The Beavers continued to play long ball in the top of the seventh as Steph Adams hit a solo shot over the center field wall to put OSU ahead, 2-0.
UTA couldn't manage a run in the bottom of the seventh as the Beavers eliminated the Lady Mavericks by a final score of 2-0.
Freshman Jill Garro was tagged with the loss after striking out three and being touched for six hits in 7.0 innings of work. Garro fell to 12-10 on the year.
Texas-Arlington and Oklahoma matched up earlier this afternoon in a battle of the unbeatens. Both squads entered the game with a 2-0 tournament record and a chance to advance to the regional finals.
The Lady Mavericks led early after Autumn Petrino's single up the middle plated designated player Cathy Calvert to give UTA a 1-0 advantage. Calvert hit a two-out single and stole second to put herself in scoring position.
UTA's lead was short lived as Oklahoma answered in the bottom of the first frame. After starter Katy Cox gave up a lead off walk, the Lady Mavs retired the next two batters but a double to left center by Christina Evea plated the runner standing on second to tie the game at one run apiece. The Sooners took a 3-1 lead after a home run by Kelli Braitsch.
UTA didn't quit however as Jenna Fortune led off the top of the second with a single to left and advanced to second on a fly out by Stephanie Owens. Fortune would cut the deficit to one run as she scored on an Ali Lommel single through the gap. Lommel would be left standing on second as the Lady Mavs couldn't muster the tying run.
The Sooners took a 4-2 lead in the bottom of the fifth frame after Leah Gullah connected for her second extra base hit of the game to plate Erin Evans who singled earlier.
OU added two runs in the bottom of the sixth to put the game out of reach for the Lady Mavs.
The Lady Mavs outhit the Sooners by one and left seven runners on base, but timely hitting by the top seeded OU squad defeated UTA.
With the loss, Cox fell to 29-7 on the year. In a complete game effort she struck out eight while being touched for eight hits.
Texas-Arlington ends its season with a school record 41 wins.
...utamavericks...
