May 14, 2005
Box Score
ARLINGTON, Texas - Texas-Arlington entered the ninth inning of Saturday's contest with a a three-run lead. After three walks and a hit batter, the game turned into a nail biter before Michael Gardner came out of the bullpen and earned his first career save as he got the only batter he faced to pop up to short to preserve the Mavs 6-5 victory over Southeastern Louisiana at Clay Gould Ballpark.
SLU (23-28, 10-13 SLC) started a rally with one out as Randy Roth single to center field and Ryan Spencer was hit by a pitch and Rob Territo walked to load the bases. Grant Varnell was then taken out of the game on the second visit to the mound. Dillon Farish walked in a run and then got a fielder's choice to put runners on the corners with two outs. Following a third visit to the mound by the Mavs, UTA was forced to remove Farish from the game.
Gardner did his bes to get loose as the coaches and umpires discussed the situation. Gardner got as ready as he could and came on to throw four pitches to save the game for Varnell.
Varnell fell just two outs shy of his fourth straight complete-game as he allowed five runs on seven hits in 8.1 innings while throwing only 98 pitches.
The Lions struck in the first inning as Gary Duhe hit the first pitch of the game up the middle for a base hit. Jason Waguespack advanced the runner to third on a successful hit-and-run before a 6-4-3 double play scored the run.
The Mavs (25-26, 14-9 SLC)took the lead in the second inning as they sent seven hitters to the plate and scored two runs on only one hit. Scott Williams started the inning be reaching second on a dropped fly ball by the right fielder. Boomer Welles followed with a base on balls and Cary Nelson reached on a fielding error by the second baseman. The first run scored on a double play groundout. Back-to-back walks to Aaron Batlle and Josh McSpadden reloaded the bases. Nathan Warrick drove in a run with a single off the glove of the first baseman, but Batlle was thrown out at the plate trying to score from second to end the inning.
SLU regained the lead in the fourth inning as Ryan Spencer followed Roth's single up the middle with his 10th home run of the season to left field.
The Mavs surged ahead in the sixth inning as Ryan Nelson started the inning with a single to right center. After a sacrifice bunt from Williams and flyout to right left Ryan Nelson on third, Cary Nelson delivered an RBI single down the right field line. After stealing second and third, Dane Ryan walked to put runners on the corners. With Ryan running on the pitch, Batlle delivered a single to right center that plated Cary Nelson and hustling Ryan from first.
UTA added a run in the seventh as Warrick had a bunt base hit on the first pitch of the inning. After a groundout and a walk to Ryan Nelson, Williams drove in Warrick with a single up the middle.
Warrick led the Mavs offense with a pair of hits, including his 12th bunt base hit of the season. Battle drove in two runs. Roth led the Lions with two hits.
Rodney Story (5-5) took the loss as he allowed five runs, three earned, on five hits in six innings.
The Mavs and Lions close out the series tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m. at Clay Gould Ballpark.
