March 30, 2008
Box Score
HUNTSVILLE, Texas - The UT Arlington softball team powered out 11 hits, including two doubles and a home run to score nine runs in a 9-2 win over Sam Houston State Sunday in the finale of the Southland Conference series.
The Bearkats (18-17, 9-6 SLC) took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of first. Morgan Mikulin reached on an error and put Sam Houston on the board with a double to center from Amy Brown.
The Mavs (13-16, 9-9 SLC) quickly answered back scoring a run in the top of the second to draw even at 1-1. Heather Fortenberry scored on a single to center from Samantha Chumchal after reaching base with a single of her own.
In the fourth inning, Rebecca Collom got UTA's offense started as the leadoff batter, followed by a single from Fortenberry and a drawn walk from senior April Clougherty loaded the bases. The stage was set for a Chumchal double to bring home Collom and Fortenberry. Freshman Whitney Simpson followed with a sacrifice fly to center field, which brought in Clougherty.
UTA added a pair of security runs in the top of the fifth. Junior Christina Allen singled to start the inning and moved all the way to third on Jones' sacrifice bunt and a wild pitch and came home on Collom's single. Chumchal delivered a hit to bring Collom home for a 6-1 Maverick advantage.
The Mavs tacked on three more runs in the top half of the sixth inning. With two outs, Jones drew the walk and Collom followed with her sixth home run of the season. Next Swofford doubled to right center and scored when Fortenberry found a whole in center to make it a 9-1 game.
Sam Houston State got a run back in the home half of the inning when Alex Survant doubled, took third when Lauren Burns singled and scored on Sarah Parich's RBI hit to make the final score 9-2.
Chumchal led the Mavs offensively, going 4 for 4 with four RBI. Collom was 2 for 4 with a home run, three RBI and three runs. Fortenberry was 3 for 4 with two runs and an RBI. Hulme (7-4) got the complete game win, giving up two runs while striking out six.
Brandi Crnkovic (8-11) was tagged with the loss after giving up six runs, five earned, on six hits and striking out three in 4.2 innings of work.
The Mavs will continue Southland Conference action against McNeese State next weekend April 5-6. The three-game series will begin with a doubleheader at 1 p.m. on Saturday and conclude with a single game at noon on Sunday.
