May 26, 2005
Box Score
NATCHITOCHES, La. - Senior right-hander Grant Varnell allowed one run on two hits in the first inning and then limited Northwestern State to just two hits the rest of the game as Texas-Arlington defeated the Demons 4-1 in 2 hours and two minutes Thursday afternoon at Brown-Stroud Field. The loss eliminated the regular season champion and tournament host.
Varnell improved his record to 8-2 and lowered his season ERA to 3.33 with the complete-game victory. He struck out two and walked none, while making several great plays in the field.
The Demons (40-18) got on the board in the first inning as Rusty Jones started the game with a single to right field. After advancing to second on a groundout, Brandon Morgan put runners on the corners with an infield single to second. Blake Jones drove in the run with a sacrifice fly to right field.
UTA (26-31) got a run back in the home half of the inning as Nathan Warrick started things with a single to center field. Warrick then stole second and took third on the throwing error by the catcher. With one out, Ryan Nelson doubled down the right field line to plate the run.
The Mavs gained the lead in the fourth inning as Aaron Batlle ripped a one-out double down the right field line. With two outs, Scott Williams singled up the middle to plate Batlle.
UTA added to its lead in the fifth inning as four Mavs hits led to two runs. Brock Wilson started the rally with a single to right center. After a sacrifice bunt off the bat of Warrick, Daniel Macha singled through the right side for an RBI. Macha would steal second and go to third on Boomer Welles infield single. Batlle plated the second run with a hot shot single that was knocked down by the first baseman, but no out was recorded.
Batlle led the Mavs offense as he collected three hits and drove in one. UTA was aggressive on the base paths as Williams stole two of the team's four bases.
Dereck Cloeren (7-3) took the loss as he allowed four runs on seven hits in 4.2 innings of work.
The Mavs return to action tomorrow afternoon at 3 p.m. against a team to be determined.
