Feb. 15, 2004
Box Score
NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana - After three days of heavy rains in the New Orleans area, mother nature finally cooperated and Texas-Arlington opened up its 2004 season with a 10-3 loss to No. 10 Tulane at Turchin Stadium.
The Mavericks (0-1) got on the board in the first inning as Aaron Batlle hit a one out double down the right field line. With two outs, Darrell Preston singled to right field to plate Batlle with the first run of the season.
UTA did not waste any time adding to its lead as the second inning as Josh McSpadden connected on a one-out single to right center field. Carey Avants followed with a single through the right side. Catcher Brett Lewis reached on a fielder's choice and when Philip Stringer's throw got away from the first baseman, McSpadden came in to score the second run of the game.
The Green Wave (1-0) cracked the scoreboard in the third inning as they sent eight batters to plate and pushed four runs across the board. The first two TU batters reached safely before UTA starter Jake Baxter retired the next two hitters. Mark Hamilton made UTA pay by crushing a ball into left field plating both runners. Following the second walk of the inning, Matt Barket doubled over Kasey Baker's head in right field to score two more runs.
TU broke the game open in the fourth inning as four Mavericks walks led to four runs in the inning. Baxter was chased from the game after loading the bases with two outs. Bric Steed came out of the pen and gave up a three-run double on his first pitch of his UTA career. He would then go on to walk the next two hitters before an infield single plated the fourth run.
The Green Wave added a pair of runs in the sixth inning on a RBI double to right field and a single back up the middle.
UTA got a run in the eighth inning as Hunter Pence walked and Darrell Preston was hit by a pitch. Josh McSpadden plated the run with a single back through the box.
Baxter (0-1) took the loss in his debut as he allowed seven earned runs on five hits in 3.2 innings of work. Billy Mohl (1-0) picked up the win by allowing two runs, one earned, on seven hits in five innings of work.
Batlle and McSpadden each collected two hits as UTA only managed eight during the game. Mark Hamilton paced the Green Wave with two hits and five runs batted in.
The Mavericks and Green Wave will play the second game of the doubleheader 30 minutes after the completion of the first game.
