April 16, 2004
Box Score
ARLINGTON, Texas - After surrendering a single to the first batter of the game, Texas-Arlington starter Michael Gardner did not allow another hit over the next seven innings and Mike Snapp came in to pitch a 1-2-3 ninth to comple the one-hitter as the Mavericks defeated Lamar 3-1 Friday evening at Clay Gould Ballpark.
Gardner pitched eight innings allowing the one unearned run on one hit to improve to 9-0 on the season and run his consecutive inning streak without allowing an earned run to 18 straight innings.
UTA (23-15, 9-4 SLC) struck for a run in the first inning as Kasey Baker drew a leadoff walk and was sacrificed to second by Aaron Batlle. Baker then manufactured the run on his own as he stole third and scored on the throwing error by the catcher Michael Ambort.
The Mavs struck again in the third inning as Batlle was again invilved in the play by ripping a one-out double down the right field line. Following a Ryan Nelson single that put runners on the corners, a wild pitch allowed Batlle to cross the plate with what served as the game-winning run.
LU (26-10, 8-5 SLC) would threaten in the fourth inning as Jeremy Gray and Jordan Foster both walked to start the inning. After enticing a fly out, catcher Brett Lewis gunned down Foster in an attempt to steal second and the next batter went down swinging to end the threat.
UTA pushed its third run across in the fifth inning as Batlle singled to center field and Nelson walked. With two outs, Paul Bruder singled to right field allowing Batlle to narrowly beat the throw to the plate.
The Cardinals got their only run of the game in the sixth inning as Jo Jo Haney reached on a three-base error by Baker and scored on Rocky Craigen's sacrifice fly to center field.
From that point on, Gardner retired the next six hitters and Snapp set the Cardinals down quietly in the ninth to preserve the one-hit victory.
Batlle, Bruder and Daniel Lenihan each collected two hits for the Mavericks. Craigen collected the only hit for LU.
Kyle Stutes (7-1) suffered his first loss of the season as he allowed three runs, two earned, on seven hits in seven innings of work. Snapp earned his eighth save of the season and 19th of his career, making him the UTA career leader in that category.
The two teams play the second game of the series tomorrow afternoon at 3 p.m. at Clay Gould Ballpark. UTA will send right-hander Mark Lowe (1-4, 3.77 ERA) to the bump, while LU will counter with LHP William Delage (2-0, 1.85 ERA).
