May 26, 2004
Box Score
HAMMOND, Louisiana - On a day where the game featured 24 hits, seven home runs and 16 runs, Texas-Arlington closer Mike Snapp stole the show as he retired all six Texas State batters he faced to help the Mavs defeat the Bobcats 9-7 in the opening round of the Southland Conference Tournament in Hammond, La.
Snapp entered the game in the eighth inning with no outs and two runners and the Mavs ahead by two runs. Expecting a bunt, Snapp went right after TXST's Dawid Bednarek and struck him out looking on four pitches. Nolan Mast then stepped to the plate and fared the same as he went down swinging on four pitches. In stepped Patrick Crumpton who followed his two predecessors as he went down swinging on three pitches.
Snapp threw only seven pitches in the ninth inning to close the deal for his 12th save of the season and 23rd of his career. Snapp is now the SLC all-time leader in career saves.
The Mavs (32-24) got the offense rolling immediately as Kasey Baker ripped the first pitch of the game for a double to left center. Aaron Batlle followed with his sixth home run of the season to right field. Two pitches later, Hunter Pence smashed his eighth home run over the right center field wall.
The 'Cats (32-25) got a run back in the home half of the inning as Dominic Ramos hit his first of two solo shots to left center.
UTA added to its lead in the third as Darrell Preston hit a two-out double down the left field line and scored on Dane Ryan's single to right center.
The lead did not last much longer as TXST tied the game up in the bottom of the inning on a Mark Cooper three-run blast to right field.
The Mavs took the lead for good in the fifth inning as Pence started things with a hot shot off the body of TXST starter Tom Robbins, forcing him from the game. Ryan Nelson followed with a base on balls before being erased on a fielder's choice off the bat of Preston. With runners on the corners, Ryan plated Pence with a single to left center. Brett Lewis followed with a run producing single to left field and Paul Bruder plated the third run of the inning with a bunt single past the right side of the pitcher's mound.
The Bobcats answered with back-to-back solo shots from Ramos and Kyle Anson to start the bottom of the fifth.
Bruder would deliver the deciding blow in the top of the seventh as he deposited a two-out, two-run shot to left center field off TXST reliever Chris Hill.
TXST would get one run back in the eight on a Matt Miller leadoff double and Cooper run-producing single before Snapp entered to end any more thoughts of a comeback.
Dillon Farrish (1-1) earned his first collegiate victory as went 2.1 innings allowing no runs on one hit with one strikeout. Robbins (8-6) took the loss after surrendering five runs on nine hits in four-plus innings of work.
Bruder led the offense with three hits and three RBIs. Bake also added three hits, while Pence and Ryan collected two apiece. Miller led the 'Cats with three hits and Cooper knocked in four.
The Mavericks return to action tomorrow evening as they take on Northwestern State at 7 p.m. at Alumni Field. UTA will send RHP Grant Varnell to the hill and NWLa. will counter with RHP Daniel Lonsberry.
