March 24, 2006
Box Score
ARLINGTON, Texas - The game was not one to go into any highlight reel or training video, but UT-Arlington found a way to win ugly as they handed Nicholls State a 9-4 defeat Friday evening in Southland Conference action at Clay Gould Ballpark.
"This is one of those games we didn't play very well, but we played good enough to win," said head coach Jeff Curtis. "We didn't get great pitching and didn't hit the ball very well, but we did what we had to do with guys on base late in the game."
The Colonels (8-16, 2-5 SLC) took advantage of some wildness in the first inning to plate three runs. Michael Bartek started the game with a walk and went to second on a sacrifice bunt. After a walk to Michael Roberts, Jose Higuera drove in a run with a single through the left side. Thomas Bourne was hit by a pitch to load the bases before Chris Barnes drove in a run with a single through the hole at short. NICH tried to score a second run on the play, but UTA left fielder David McLeod had other ideas as he nailed the runner at the plate. The third run of the on a delay steal from first in which the runner from third scored before the out occurred.
UTA (9-15, 5-0 SLC) responded in the home-half of the inning as they scored three runs on three hits, all with two outs. Adam Moore started the rally with a single through the left side and Justin Stevens followed with a single to right. A pair of wild pitches plated a run before a Colin Booher walk and passed balls put two runners in scoring position. Robby Winn drove in both runners with a double into the gap in left center.
The Mavs took the lead in the fourth as Kyle Rudy was hit by a pitch and Daniel Rieder walked with one out. McLeod singled to load the bases before Moore drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to right field.
UTA added a run in the sixth as McLeod doubled off the left field wall with two outs and scored when Moore's towering fly ball was dropped by the shortstop.
NICH nearly took the lead in the seventh inning as Keith Delahoussaye, Brian Freeman and Michael Muscato singled to load the bases. A fielder's choice scored one run before Chris Taylor came out of the bullpen and got Higuera to fly out to left field with the bases loaded and two outs.
UTA got a run back in the seventh as Winn walked and David Newby singled through the left side. After a wild pitch advanced the runners, Ben Burum's fly ball to right field was dropped by the right fielder. UTA though they had scored another run on Rudy's fly ball to right field, but the runner from third was called out on appeal for leaving too early.
The Colonels threatened again in the eighth as they loaded the bases with one out before Taylor got a strikeout and a grounder to short to end the threat.
UTA put the game away in the eighth as Brock Wilson cleared the bases with a two-out three-run double to left field.
McLeod led the Mavs offense with three hits, while Winn drove in two and Wilson three.
Ryan Riddle (2-0) picked up the victory as he allowed four runs on eight hits in six innings. Justin Breaux (1-4) took the loss as he gave up four runs on six hits in four innings. Taylor picked up his fourth save by allowing two hits in 2.1 innings.
The two teams will play the second game of the series tomorrow afternoon at 3 p.m. at Clay Gould Ballpark. UTA will send RHP Dillon Gee (2-4, 5.56 ERA) to the mound and the Colonels will counter with RHP Jason Sullivan (0-1, 3.52 ERA).
