May 27, 2006
Box Score
BEAUMONT, Texas - The UT-Arlington baseball team battled its way through the loser's bracket and won four straight games to capture their third Southland Conference Tournament championship with a 8-2 victory over Northwestern State Saturday afternoon at Vincent-Beck Stadium.
UTA becomes the first No. 5 seed to win the tournament and becomes the first team to eliminate four teams from the tournament.
The Demons (33-28) got on the board in the first inning as Brandon Morgan ripped a two-out double to center field and scored on Miles Durham's single up the middle.
UTA (29-34) used the momentum they gained from their comeback victory earlier to collect three hits and push across four runs. Daniel Rieder started the game with a walk and scored on Adam Moore's double to right field. For Moore, it was his 22nd double of the season, tieing the school-record set by Kasey Baker in 2003.
Robby Winn followed by being hit by a pitch, just one pitch after narrowly missing a two-run home run to left. After a passed ball, Ben Burum tucked a double just inside the bag at first to score two runs. With two outs, Brock Wilson closed out the scoring with a single up the middle to score Burum.
The Mavs got back on the board in the sixth inning as Winn doubled into the gap in left center. With one out, Danny Slinkman was hit by a pitch and Wilson walked. Kyle Rudy drove in two runs with a double just inside the right-field line and Rieder drove in another with a single through the right side.
UTA added an insurance run in the seventh as Moore singled to left field to start the inning. With two outs, Slinkman reached on an error before Wilson drove in Moore with a single to left field.
The Demons got a run back in the ninth as Michael Flower hit a solo home run to left field.
Brandon Endsley (1-3) earned his first collegiate victory in his first start as he gave up one run on seven hits in six innings. Daniel Clark (8-5) took the loss as he gave up four runs on three hits in 1.1 innings. Kyle Gainley (2) earned the save after allowing one run on four hits in three innings.
Five members of the Mavs were named to the all-tournament team with Ryan Riddle earning tournament MVP honors. Joining Riddle on the team were catcher Adam Moore, first baseman Robby Winn, shortstop Kyle Rudy and pitcher Brandon Endsley.
The Mavs will find out which regional they will be playing at 11:30 a.m. Monday on ESPN.
