Feb. 20, 2005
Box Score
ARLINGTON, Texas - Chris Rich's RBI single in the top of the 12th inning sparked Arkansas State to a six-run inning as they overcome a ninth inning collapse in defeating Texas-Arlington 9-3 in the final game of the 2005 UTA Invitational at Clay Gould Ballpark.
The Indians (6-1) took advantage of a Mavericks implosion in the 12th inning as four base-hits, one error, and three free passes put the game out of reach. The inning started with a Kevin Kull walk and sacrifice. Rich drove in the game winner with a single up the middle and Geoff Desmond walked followed by an infield single by Hudson Smart loaded the bases. Pinch hitter Elliot Jacobs singled to right field to score one-run and a bobbled ball in the outfield allowed a second run to score. Brett Kinning reloaded the bases with a walk before Mike Sirianni, younger brother of UTA pitching coach Jay Sirianni, single to left center to score another run. Kull's second trip to the plate resulted in a sacrifice fly to close out the scoring.
UTA (4-6) forced extra-innings in the bottom of the ninth inning as four Indian errors led to two Mavericks runs. With one out, Josh McSpadden reached on an error by the first baseman and moved to second on the second out of the inning. Nathan Warrick beat out an infield single to shortstop and McSpadden moved to third on the throwing error by the shortstop. Cary Nelson reached on another error by the second baseman allowing Warrick to go to third and McSpadden to score. Ryan Nelson then followed with a grounder to third that was booted allowing Warrick to score the tieing run.
ASU go the scoring started in the second inning as Smart singled and moved to third on Monte Douglas' double. Sirianni drove in the first run of the game with a single to right field.
The Indians added another run in the third Desmond single up the middle to score Kull who started the inning with a single to left center.
The Mavs crept to within one run in the sixth Justin Stevens doubled down the left field line and moved to third on Scott Williams' single to right field. Aaron Batlle drove in Stevens with a groundout to first base.
ASU quickly got that run back in the seventh as Sirianni doubled to right center and scored on Chris Prothro's sacrifice fly to center field.
The Mavs got another strong start as Grant Varnell went seven innings allowing three runs on six hits and struck out three. Dillon Gee (0-2) took the loss as he allowed six runs on four hits in one-third of an inning. Brandon Westmoreland (1-0) picked up the victory as he pitched two perfect innings of relief.
Warrick led the offense with three hits. Cary Nelson, Stevens and Macha each had two hits. Sirianni led ASU with three hits, two RBIs and two runs scored.
The Mavs return to action on Feb. 22 as they travel to Austin to take on No. 1 Texas. First pitch is set for 2:30 p.m. at Disch-Falk Field.
