April 30, 2005
Box Score
THIDODAUX, La. - Senior right hander Grant Varnell had trouble finding the plate and missing the Nicholls State bats in the first two innings. The windy day was affecting the contacts and forced Varnell to switch to the glasses. That did the trick as Varnell retired 19 straight hitters and threw his third complete-game in Texas-Arlington's 11-6 victory over the Colonels on Saturday afternoon at Ray E. Didier Field.
Varnell (6-2) allowed six runs on nine hits in the first two innings and then allowed only one Colonel baserunner through the next six innings. After retiring the first hitter in the ninth, Varnell got one out before giving up back-to-back hits. With the bases loaded, Varnell got a weak grounder to second to end the game.
UTA (23-24, 12-8 SLC) got on the board in the first inning as Brett Lewis started the game with a base hit up the middle. Scott Williams followed with a base on balls and Boomer Welles loaded the bases with a single down the right field line. Justin Stevens drove in two runs with a single up the middle.
The lead did not last long as the Colonels strung together five hits and plated three runs in the home half of the first. Tim Daigle plated the first run with double to right center, and Bubba Bell and Mike Muscato had RBI singles.
NSU added to its lead in the second inning as four more hits scored three runs in the frame. Bell collected his second RBI single of the game and Josh Thomas plated two runs with a double into the gap in right center.
UTA climbed back into the game in the third as Ryan Nelson and Welles singled to start the inning. Stevens followed with an RBI double off the center field wall and advanced to third as Welles was thrown out at the plate. Dane Ryan drove in a run with a single to third and moved to third on a pair of walks to David McLeod and Alex Schenck. The third run of the inning scored on a wild pitch.
The Mavs surged to the lead in the fifth inning as sent 10 hitters to the plate and scored six runs on five hits. Stevens started the inning with a four-pitch walk and Ryan was hit by a pitch. Batlle loaded the bases with one out on a single to left field before Schenck plated two runs with a single up the middle. After a wild pitch, Lewis drove in two runs with double down the left field line and scored on Williams' single to left center. Nelson followed with a double to right center that allowed Williams to score from first.
Lewis, Nelson, Welles and Stevens each collected two hits. Stevens drove in a career-high three runs and Lewis and Schenck each drove in two.
Bryan Myers (2-6) took the loss as he allowed four runs on two hits in two innings of work. Bell and Thomas led the way with two hits and two RBIs apiece.
The Mavs and Colonels close out the series tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m.
