March 24, 2007
Box Score
ARLINGTON, Texas - UT Arlington softball won both games of its SLC double header with Sam Houston State on Saturday. The Mavs took the first game 7-4 and won the second 3-1 over the Bearkats.
With the wins UTA improves to 20-11 overall on the season and 10-4 in SLC action. The Bearkats fell to 14-14 on the season and 5-3 in SLC action.
Freshman Heather Fortenberry (8-1) went the distance on the mound in game one giving up four runs while striking out five. At the plate, Fortenberry led the Mavs going 2-for-3 with two runs scored. Senior Dee Jay Nelson also went 2-for-3 scoring two runs and driving in two more while hitting her seventh home run of the season
The Mavericks got on the board first in game one in the bottom of the first inning when Fortenberry scored on a Bearkat error.
Sam Houston tied the score 1-1 in the top of the second on a single up the middle from Amanda Lindsey to score Lauren Burns. In the top of the third, the Bearkats Tiffani Woodrum scored on a sacrifice fly from Many Collier.
Fortenberry drew the walk to start the third inning when Nelson had a chance to put the Mavs ahead with a long ball that was snagged at the left field fence. Courtney Anderson drove in pinch runner Kristin Moore with a single down the left field line to knot the score 2-2.
With two outs in the fourth and runners on second and third Fortenberry struck out Amy Brown to end the inning and the Bearkat threat. Sam Houston's Casey Everitt drew the walk to start the fifth inning when Stephanie Mosley hit a double to put the Bearkats ahead 3-2. Mosley added run number four for Sam Houston State off a single from Lauren Burns.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Fortenberry reached on a single up the middle when Nelson hit her seventh home run of the season to tie it up 4-4.
Right fielder Brittany Washington singled to third base to kick-off the bottom of the sixth inning and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Jones. Fortenberry hit a single and advanced to second on a throw to the plate that scored Washington to give the Mavs the 5-4 lead. Next Nelson drew the intentional walk followed by Courtney Anderson hit a double to drive-in Nelson and Fortenberry for the 7-4 lead heading into the seventh inning.
In the top of the seventh Fortenberry struck out the first Bearkat batter and forced the next two to ground out to secure the win for UTA.
In game two, Katie Jones started the Mavs off in the bottom of the first inning with a single and advanced to second with a steal. Anderson singled up the middle to plate Jones and give UTA the 1-0 lead.
The Bearkats threatened to score in the top of the third, but with the bases loaded and two outs Tanya Hooser grounded out to third base to end the inning.
In the bottom of the third inning, Fortenberry hit her fifth home run of the season plating Jones who reached on a single up the middle, putting the Mavs up 3-0.
Sam Houston scored one run in the top of the sixth to get within two (3-1), and UTA held the Bearkats to one hit in the seventh for the win.
Laura Jones (7-4) picked up her seventh win of the season on the mound in game two. Jones struck out four in seven innings of work giving up just one run while scattering nine hits.
The Mavs and Bearkats will close out the series on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Allan Saxe Field.
