March 31, 2007
Box Score
HUNTSVILLE, Texas - The days have not been this dark for the UT Arlington baseball team since 1979 as the Mavericks equaled their longest losing streak in school history, 11 games, after dropping a 7-5 decision to Sam Houston State Saturday evening. The 0-8 start to Southland Conference action also equals the worst start to a conference season since 1979.
The Mavs (9-21, 0-8 SLC) got on the board in the first inning as Collin Garner started the game with a walk and went to third on a hit-and-run off the bat of Daniel Rieder. Danny Slinkman plated a run with a single into center field.
The Bearkats (20-10, 6-2 SLC) got on the board in the third as Heath Pugh started things with a solo home run to right field, his second of the season.
SHSU scratched across another run in the fourth as Nick Zaleski singled to center field and went to second on a sacrifice bunt. After another groundout, Pugh delivered an RBI single up the middle.
UTA ran into trouble in the fifth inning as the Bearkats collected a pair of hits to start the inning before the Mavs looked to get out of the inning without any damage. UTA starter Dillon Gee got the league's top hitter to popup before inducing a grounder to third, but the first baseman missed the bag on the throw. The next batter flew out to left, which should have ended the inning, but turned into a sacrifice fly.
SHSU had the first two hitters of the sixth inning retired with ease before they collected five straight hits, including an RBI triple from Keith Stein, an RBI single from Bobby Verbick, an RBI double from Karl Krailo and a Zaleski RBI single.
The Mavs managed to get one run back in the seventh as they loaded the bases with one out on singles from Slinkman, David Newby and Kyle Rudy before Ben Burum drove in a run with a groundout.
UTA threatened with one out in the eighth as Garner doubled just inside the bag at first and scored on Rieder's single to center and error on the center fielder. Slinkman followed with and RBI single through the right side and David Newby followed a Mitch Putman walk with an RBI single to center.
The Mavs had yet another chance in the ninth inning as they got a pair of runners in scoring position, but could not score as Rieder grounded out to the pitcher to end the game.
Slinkman led the offense with three hits and two RBIs, while Rieder also added three hits.
Dillon Gee (2-6) suffered his third loss in three conference starts after allowing seven runs, six earned, on 12 hits in six innings. Jacob Howard (6-2) earned the victory after allowing two runs on six hits with six strikeouts in seven innings. Luke Prihoda (11) earned his second save in as many days by allowing three hits in 1.2 innings.
The Mavs and Bearkats will close out the three-game series tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m. at Don Sanders Stadium.
