March 21, 2006
Box Score
STILLWATER, Okla. - UT-Arlington scored the first three runs of the game, but Oklahoma State rallied to tie the game in the seventh and then scored five unearned runs in the eighth to defeat the Mavericks 8-3 Tuesday evening at Allie P. Reynolds Stadium.
In the bottom of the eighth, Ty Wright started the inning by striking out but reached when the ball was knocked away from the catcher and he could not throw over the runner. That just opened the flood gates as Jordy Mercer hit an RBI single to left field and Corey Brown hit a sacrifice fly to left field. Shelby Ford drew a bases load walk before Tyler Mach drove in a pair of runs with a single up the middle.
The Mavs (8-15) got on the board in the third inning as James Smith sliced an inside the park home run into the gap in right center. Daniel Rieder followed with a infield single to third and David McLeod beat out a bunt base hit to first base. With one out, Robby Winn drove in a run with a single down the left field line. UTA tried to steal a run as McLeod attempted to steal home, but was called out on a very close play.
UTA got another run in the fourth as Justin Stevens singled through the left side and was sacrificed to second by David Newby. With two outs, Kyle Rudy's grounder to second was mishandled by the first baseman, allowing the run to score.
The Cowboys (15-4) got a pair of runs back in the fourth as Ford and Mach had back-to-back one-out doubles to put two runners on. After a walk loaded the bases, John Schindler drove in a pair of runs with a bloop single into right center.
OSU tied the game in the seventh as Steve Ptak hit a pinch-hit double down the left field line and came in to score on a wild pitch.
Mercer (2-0) also picked up the victory as he pitched two perfect innings with two strikeouts. Chris Taylor (1-2) suffered the loss as he allowed four unearned runs on one hit in two-thirds of an inning.
Dillon Gee started the game for the Mavs and did not allow a hit and struck out one in a pre-determined three innings of work.
McLeod led the offense with a pair of hits, including a double.
The Mavs return to the diamond this weekend as they host Nicholls State in Southland Conference action on March 24-26. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. at Clay Gould Ballpark on Friday evening. Saturday's game is set for 3 p.m. with a 1 p.m. matinee on Sunday.
