Feb. 9, 2007
Box Score
ARLINGTON, Texas - UT Arlington senior right hander Chris Taylor limited Louisiana Tech to one earned run on three hits, while striking out eight, in six innings to pitch the Mavs to an 8-3 victory over the Bulldogs Friday night in the home opener at Clay Gould Ballpark.
Taylor (1-0) got off to a strong start as he retired the first nine hitters he faced before the 10th guy reached on a walk. Taylor was not the only Mavs pitcher to put on a good performance in front the brave souls who fought through the cold temperatures as Jeffrey Nollen struck out three and allowed one hit in two innings and Brandon Endsley had a 1-2-3 ninth inning.
UTA (1-1) took advantage of a pair of walks in the first inning to stake to an early 2-0 lead. David Newby started with a walk and, after a wild pitch, Daniel Rieder did the same. With one out, Danny Slinkman delivered an RBI single to center field and Mitch Putman followed with an RBI single to left center.
The Mavs struck again in the third as David McLeod reached on a fielding error and went to second on a wild pitch. With one out, Slinkman and Putman walked to load the bases and Matthew Otteman delivered a two-run single through the left side.
LTU (1-3) got on the board in the fourth as a walking and a throwing error set up Brandon Hudson's RBI single and Albie Goulder's RBI fielder's choice.
The Mavs got the run back in the home-half of the inning as Rieder walked and stole second before scoring on the second error of the game by Dennis Winn.
UTA answered and RBI double in the top of the sixth by Courtney Jones with a run of their own in the bottom of the inning as Rieder started another rally with a walk and later scored on a balk with two outs.
The scoring was closed out in the eighth as Ben Burum had a pinch-hit single to start the inning and pinch-runner Lance Nobile scored from first on Rieder's double into the gap in left center. Slinkman would follow with his second run-producing base hit of the game.
Slinkman and Putman each produced a pair of hits, while Rieder drew three walks and scored four runs.
Luke Burnett (0-2) took the loss for the Bulldogs as he gave up five runs, three earned, on three hits and eight walks in 3.2 innings.
The Mavs and Bulldogs will play the second game of the series tomorrow afternoon at 2 p.m. at Clay Gould Ballpark. Left hander Colt Simon is expected to get the start for UTA, while LTU will counter with right hander Ryan Rupert.
