Feb. 15, 2005
Box Score
WACO, Texas - The University of Texas at Arlington baseball team found its offense against No. 8 Baylor on Tuesday as the Mavericks pounded out 13 hits and Scott Williams tied his career-high with four RBIs en route to a 9-6 victory in front of the largest opening day crowd (3,721) in Baylor Ballpark history. The victory was the Mavs eighth in the last 10 games against teams from the Big 12.
The Mavericks (3-4) got the offense going in the third inning as Kyle Thomason started things with a base on balls and went to third on a Brett Fenner sacrifice bunt and a wild pitch. Nathan Warrick and Aaron Batlle drew back-to-back walks to load the bases before Scott Williams drove in two runs with a double down the right field line. The damaged was minimized as Daniel Macha lined a ball to second that was caught by the second baseman who flipped it to second to double off Williams.
BU (3-1)took advantage of a Maverick error in the fourth inning to push a run across. Kyle Reynolds started the inning by hitting the first pitch down the line for a double. After advancing to third on a flyout, Michael Griffin grounded to third, but Daniel Macha's throw to first was errand and allowed Reynolds to score. Griffin as cut down trying to advance to second and Mike Pankratz ended the inning by striking out.
UTA quickly responded the unearned Bears run as Fenner started things by being hit by a pitch. Warrick advanced the runner with a bunt base hit down the first base line and Batlle drove in Fenner with a single through the right side. Williams followed with his third RBI of the game with a single up the middle to score Warrick.
The Mavs broke the game wide open in the sixth inning as UTA collected five hits and plated five runs. The bottom of the order got the rally started as Cary Nelson and Kyle Thomason hit back-to-back singles up the middle put runners on the corners. Fenner plated the first run with a bunt single to first and Warrick moved the runners to second and third with a sacrifice bunt of his own. After Batlle was intentionally walked to load the bases, Williams tied his career-high by driving in his fourth run of the game with a fielder's choice. Macha plated another run with a double to left center and Brett Lewis plated two runs with a single to left field.
The Bears got the fans back in the game in the home half of the seventh inning as a hit by pitch, double and a free pass loaded the bases with two outs. Paul Witt cleared the bases with his first career grand slam over the left field wall.
A walk, single and Chase Gerdes sacrifice in the ninth inning plated the sixth run for the Bears.
Grant Varnell (1-0) picked up the victory as he allowed one unearned run on three hits in a predetermined four innings of work. Sean Walker (0-1) took the loss as he allowed two runs on two hits in three innings of work.
UTA tied its season-high with 13 hits as Warrick, Williams, Lewis, Nelson and Thomason each collected two hits. Lewis drove in two runs and Warrick, Thomason and Fenner each scored two.
The Mavs return to action on Feb. 18 as they play Northwestern in the first day of the 2005 UTA Invitational. First pitch is set for 3:30 p.m.
