Feb. 18, 2005
Box Score
ARLINGTON, Texas - Senior shortstop Aaron Batlle went 2-for-5 with four RBIs as the Texas-Arlington offense continued to score in an 11-3 victory over Northwestern on the first day of the 2005 UTA Invitational.
UTA (4-4) to things going immediately as Nathan Warrick began the bottom of the first by drawing a full-count walk and proceeding to steal second base. After moving to third on a groundout, Warrick scored as Scott Williams reached on an error by Wildcat shortstop Caleb Fields. Williams stole the second base of the inning for UTA before scoring on Brett Lewis' double to right center.
The 'Cats (1-1) fought their way back with a run in the second Max Mann doubled to left field for the third of the inning to score Antonio Mule. NU pushed another run across in the third to tie the game on a Mark Ori RBI single back through the box.
UTA took the lead for good with a five run fourth inning helped out by two NU errors. With one out, Joe Newman singled through the right side and advanced to second on Cary Nelson's single to right field. Kyle Thomason singled into the hole at second base to load the bases. Newman would score when catcher Pat McMahon would throw wildly back to the mound after a pitch. Brett Fenner would then clear the bases with a two-run triple to straight away center field. After Warrick was hit by a pitch, he advanced to second as Fenner scored on the wild pitch. Warrick would come around to score as he tagged up on a Batlle fly out to center field and when the throw skipped past the third baseman, Warrick hustled in with the fifth run of the inning.
The Mavs added some insurance in the sixth inning as Batlle hit a two-run double to right field to score Warrick and Thomason, who each drew a walk.
After a fielder's choice allowed NU to score a run in the seventh, UTA got two runs back in the eighth as Thomason, Alex Schenck and Warrick all walked with one out. Batlle drove in two more runs with a single back up the middle.
Jake Baxter (2-0) had another effective outing as he allowed two earned runs over seven innings and fanned eight. Jeremiah Haar made his collegiate debut and allowed one hit and struck out two in two innings of work. Evan Blesoff (1-1) took the loss as he allowed seven runs, four earned on seven hits in five innings of work.
Batlle led the offense with two hits and four runs batted in. Lewis was the only other player with two hits. Warrick and Thomason combined for five walks and six runs scored. Mann led the Wildcats with two hits.
The Mavs return to action on Saturday afternoon as they host Kansas State on the second day of the UTA Invitational. First pitch is set for 3:30 p.m.
