Feb. 11, 2007
Box Score
ARLINGTON, Texas - Nick Grunenwald's two-run single up the middle in the top of the 10th inning proved to be the game winner as Louisiana Tech pulled out a 9-7 extra-inning victory over UT Arlington in the final game of a three-game series Sunday afternoon at Clay Gould Ballpark.
The Bulldogs (3-3) started the extra frame with Brandon Hudson and Brian Rike drawing base on balls. Following a sac bunt and an intentional walk, Grunenwald delivered the chopper up the middle that ricocheted off the pitchers glove into center field to score the winning runs.
The Mavs (1-3) scratched a run across in the third inning as Daniel Rieder singled into the hole at short and Matthew Otteman followed with a single into left center. After a Danny Slinkman sacrifice bunt, Leo Radkowski drove in a runner with a groundout to short.
The Bulldogs took advantage of three walks to start the fourth inning with a Dennis Winn sacrifice fly and a Kevin Winn groundout to the pitcher. Matt Combs drove in the third run with a single through the left side.
UTA tied the game in the home-half of the inning as Kyle Rudy delivered a one-out single to center and John Mark Cleaveland drew his second walk of the game. With two outs, Rieder walked to load the bases and Otteman plated a run with a walk of his own. The second run scored on a failed pickoff attempt from the catcher got past the first baseman.
LTU got a pair of runs in the fifth as a successful double steal scored the first one and a sacrifice fly by Drew Bunting.
Again the Mavs answered back as Radkowski doubled to right center and Ben Burum was hit in the head by a pitch to start the inning. Lance Nobile followed with a bunt base hit down the third base line before Kyle Rudy drew a bases loaded walk. John Mark Cleaveland and Rieder would each deliver sacrifice flies later in the inning.
The Bulldogs tied the game in the seventh as Hudson tripled to right and later scored on Bunting's groundout to the pitcher.
The Mavs took the lead back in the eighth as a pair of hits and a walk loaded the bases with no outs. Nobile drove in the only run of the inning with a grounder to the pitcher.
LTU was able to force the game into extra innings as three straight one-out walks loaded the bases. After a Patrick Thomas RBI single through the left side, UTA closer PJ Burns was able to induce a 1-2-3 double play to keep the game tied.
Aaron Lorio (1-0) picked up the victory as he did not allow a hit in his three innings of work. Erik Cartmill (0-1) took the loss as both the batters he walked to start the 10th came around to score.
Rieder, Otteman, Radkowski and Burum each collected two hits for the Mavs.
The Mavs return to action next weekend as they host the Hilton Arlington UTA Invitational on Feb. 16-18 at Clay Gould Ballpark. The tournament will get underway with New Mexico and Nebraska at 11:30 a.m., followed by UTA and Illinois State at 3:30 p.m.
