March 19, 2004
Box Score
ARLINGTON, Texas - The University of Texas at Arlington baseball team continued to swing the bats well as they pounded out 15 hits in defeating Sam Houston State 11-2 in the Southland Conference opener Friday evening at Clay Gould Ballpark.
The victory improved the Mavericks to 13-8 on the season and 1-0 in conference play, while the Bearkats dropped their 12th straight game and are now 4-14-1, and 0-1 in conference play.
Michael Gardner continued his dominance on the mound as he allowed two runs, one earned, in seven innings of work to improve to 5-0 on the season. He lowered his ERA to 1.41.
SHSU got on the board in the second inning as a leadoff walk came into score when a single and a pair of groundouts did not leave the infield, but resulted in a run.
UTA quickly tied the game up in the home half of the second as Darrell Preston and Ryan Nelson reached on back-to-back singles to start the inning. Brett Lewis' fielder's choice turned into an unearned run as second baseman Josh Warren's relay throw sailed into the dugout scoring Preston.
The Mavs took the lead for good in the third inning Aaron Batlle and Hunter Pence walked and Paul Bruder sacrificed both runners into scoring position. Preston plated the first run with a groundout to second and the second came in on a Ryan Nelson single to left field.
UTA extended its lead in the fourth inning as Lewis doubled to left center field and Josh McSpadden singled to the pitcher and moved to second when the throw sailed wide scoring Lewis. Bruder would plate another run with a single to right field later on in the inning.
A four spot in the fifth inning would salt the game away as Carey Avants drew a one-out walk and came around to score on Lewis' second double of the game. With two outs, Batlle deliverd an RBI single and Pence followed with a two-run single to center field.
UTA added to insurance runs in the sixth inning as Nelson started the inning with a walk and scored on an Avants double to left field. After advancing on a groundout, Avants came into score on an infield single by Kasey Baker.
The Bearkats closed out the scoring by pushing an unearned run across in the sevnth when Warren came into score on an error after singling up the middle earlier in the inning.
Every hitter in the Mavericks lineup collected at least one hit, led by Batlle with three and Pence, Bruder, Nelson and Lewis with two apiece. Andrew Kasparek led SHSU with two hits.
Ryan Rafferty (1-3) took the loss after allowing five runs, three earned, on eight hits in 3.2 innings of work. Bric Steed came on to retire all six batters he faced, striking out two.
The Mavericks and Bearkats play the second game of the series tomorrow afternoon at 3 p.m. at Clay Gould Ballpark. SHSU will throw right-hander Zach Adkisson (1-3, 7.71ERA), while UTA will counter with right-hander Jake Baxter (3-2, 4.71 ERA).
