March 30, 2004
Box Score
ARLINGTON, Texas - Paul Bruder's RBI double and Ryan Nelson's RBI single in the seventh inning broke open a 6-6 tie as Texas-Arlington defeated Centenary 8-6 Tuesday evening at Clay Gould Ballpark.
Aaron Batlle started the inning by drawing a walk and was retired on a fielder's choice off the bat of Hunter Pence. Pence proceded to steal second base and moved to third on a wild pitch to set up Bruder and Nelson.
The Mavericks (17-11) struck quickly as Kasey Baker led off the first inning with his third home run of the season to left field. Batlle followed with a single up the middle and came around to score on Pence's triple to right center field.
UTA's two runs in the first inning marked the seventh straight game that the Mavs scored in the first inning.
The Gents (11-14) got a run back in the second inning as UTA starter Chris Reed struggled with control problems and walked four straight CC hitters.
UTA put a two spot on the board in the second inning as with two outs, Aaron Cook reached on a bunt single and moved to third on a Baker single to center field. Both runners came around to score on Batlle's double down the right field line.
CC answered again with a run in the third as a pair of walks and single loaded the bases with nobody out. Blake Adkison's sacrifice fly to center field scored the run. UTA reliever Bric Steed was able to minimize the damage as he got the next two hitters to ground out to end the inning.
The Gents crept within one run in the fourth inning as Jonathan Ahearn started the inning with a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. He came around to score when Jared Vincent singled to the hole at short and Batlle's throw sailed into the dugout.
UTA responded with a pair of runs in the home half of the fourth as Daniel Lenihan reached on an error and moved to second on a ground out. Baker advanced the runner with a single to left field and Batlle plated both runners with a triple off the base of the wall in right center field.
The Gents were able to tie the game up over the next two innings as they pushed a pair of runs across in the fifth inning an took advantage of the second Maverick error in the sixth for an unearned run.
Batlle led the offense by going 3-for-3 with a double, triple and four runs batted in. Baker added three hits and scored three runs. Pence's triple in the first inning extended his hit streak to 10 games. Ahearn and Jared Vincent led the Gents with two hits apiece.
Michael Garza (2-1) picked up the win by allowing one unearned run on no hits in three innings of work. He also struck out three. Mike Snapp earned his fourth save by pitching a scoreless ninth, striking out two. It was the sixth straight game that Snapp appeared on the mound. Brandon Fulenchek (0-2) took the loss after walking the only batter he faced in the seventh inning.
The Mavericks return to action on Friday as they begin a three-game set in Hammond, La. against Southeastern Louisiana. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. at Alumni Field. The two teams will close out the series with a 3 p.m. game on Saturday and a 1 p.m. matinee on Sunday.
