March 11, 2005
Box Score
ARLINGTON, Texas - Texas-Arlington right-hander Michael Gardner picked up his first victory of the season as he allowed one run over eight innings as the Mavs defeated Illinois 5-1 Friday evening at Clay Gould Ballpark.
Gardner improved his record to 1-2 as he allowed nine hits and struck out five while throwing 109 pitches.
The Mavs (9-8) got the offense going immediately as Nathan Warrick doubled down the left field line on the second pitch. Brett Lewis sacrificed Warrick to third before Aaron Batlle drove in Warrick with a sacrifice fly to center field. For UTA that was the first sacrifice fly of the season.
UTA added another run in the second inning as Daniel Macha started things with a single through the left side. Ryan Nelson followed with a sacrifice bunt and Kyle Thomason drew a two-out walk. With runners on the corners, Josh McSpadden singled down the left field line to score Macha.
Two more runs crossed the plate for the Mavs in the fourth as with one out, Macha doubled into left center and scored on Nelson's single to right field. Nelson advanced to second on a balk and third on Brock Wilson's single through the right side. Kyle Thomason drove in the second run of the inning with a sacrifice fly to center field.
The Illini (3-3-1) threatened to score in the fifth inning as they loaded the bases with nobody out. Gardner got himself out of the jam by getting a flyout to center field and enticing an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play.
The Mavs took advantage of a free pass in the seventh inning to add their fifth run of the game. Warrick drew a one-out walk and moved to second on a Lewis groundout. Batlle plated Warrick with a double over the head of the right fielder.
ILL finally scratched a run across in the eighth inning as Trevor Huisinga doubled to right field and scored on a Chris Robinson single to right field.
Macha led the Mavs offense as he went 3-for-3 with a pair of runs scored. McSpadden added a pair of hits and RBI, while Batlle drove in two runs and Warrick scored two runs.
Brian Blomquist (2-1) took the loss as he allowed five earned runs on nine hits over seven innings of work. The runs were the first Blomquist has given up all season.
The Mavs and Fighting Illini will play the second game of the series tomorrow afternoon at 3 p.m. at Clay Gould Ballpark. UTA will send RHP Grant Varnell (2-0, 3.12 ERA) to the mound while ILL will counter with RHP Jimmy Conroy (1-0, 3.00 ERA).
