Feb. 22, 2009
Box Score
ARLINGTON, Texas - Sophomore Rett Varner led the UT Arlington Mavericks to a 13-0 victory over Siena on Sunday night while pitching six scoreless innings and combining with three other Maverick pitchers to shutout the Siena Saints on the third day of the UTA/Hilton Invitational at Clay Gould Ballpark in Arlington.
The Mavericks improve to 2-1 on the season while the Saints drop to 1-2 overall.
Varner's first victory of the season was secure after he shut down the Saints in the sixth inning before watching his teammates score 11 runs on seven base hits in the bottom of the inning.
Before the fireworks started in the sixth inning, UT Arlington scored its first two runs in the third and fourth innings on RBI singles from Michael Choice and Ryan Davis. Choice drove home Davis in the third before Davis scored Chad Comer, who doubled to lead-off the fourth, to give the Mavs a 2-0 lead.
Davis jolted the Mavericks in the sixth when the rally began with his RBI double down the left-field line to score Evan Raley. Senior Preston McCoy and Choice followed with RBI singles and senior Matt Otteman drove in two with a triple to center field. Two singles, two walks and a hit-by-pitch ensued before the Mavs finished the frame with 11 runs scored.
Varner allowed just two base hits and two walk while striking out five. Otteman, Brian Watson and Brandon Endsley each pitched an inning to help combine on UT Arlington's first shutout since Opening Day last season (1-0, vs. Arkansas-Little Rock).
Six UT Arlington players tallied multiple hits, including Davis who led all players going 3-for-3 with three RBI. Freshman Eric Wright made his collegiate debut in a pinch hitting role in the sixth inning as he delivered a two-run single to right field in his first official at-bat.
The Mavericks and Saints will conclude the four day, eight game, UTA/Hilton Invitational on Monday, Feb. 23, with a 3 p.m. scheduled first pitch at Clay Gould Ballpark.
GAME NOTES:
The victory improves the Mavericks all-time record in the UTA/Hilton Invitational to 26-21 in its 16th season... Tonight's game marked the first ever meeting between UT Arlington and Siena... Siena is the 130th opponent that UT Arlington has faced in its 41 seasons of baseball... The shutout marked only the second for UT Arlington in 16 years of competition at the UTA/Hilton Invitational and the first since 2002 when the Mavericks shutout Air Force 2-0... The shutout also marks the first of this year's tournament... The Mavericks 13 runs is also the most runs scored in a game during this year's tournament... Ryan Davis matched his career-high of three base hits, which he had only done once (3 at Baylor, 4/9/08)... UTA scored at least 13 runs eight times last season, but only two were against non-conference opponents (16 vs. Texas A&M; 26 vs. McNeese State)... Varner's 6.0 innings pitched equals a career-high for most innings and longest start.
UTA/Hilton Invitational Game Results (Sunday):
Texas State defeated Arkansas State, 3-2
Arkansas State lost its final three games of the UTA/Hilton Invitational, including a 3-2 decision against Texas State in the 11 a.m. game on Sunday morning. The victory for Texas State comes after dropping the opening game of the tournament to the Red Wolves on a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth inning. Texas State's Kane Holbrooks was the story as he earned the victory throwing 8.0 inning, giving up five hits and two runs with three strikeouts. Bobcats left fielder Tyler Sibley drove in two runs and center fielder Bret Atwood went 2-for-5 with a run scored. No Arkansas State player tallied multiple hits and only starter Drew Benes (3.0 IP, 2H, 3BB) stayed in the game past 2 2/3 innings.
Texas State defeated Siena, 10-5
The Texas State Bobcats left Arlington with a 3-1 record in tournament action after cruising to a 10-5 victory over Siena in a 2:30 p.m. game on Sunday afternoon. Starting pitcher Brian Borski led the Bobcats to the victory while pitching 6.0 innings and collecting seven strikeouts. The 2-through-4 hole combination of Bret Atwood (4-for-5, 4 runs), Paul Goldschmidt (3-for-5, 2 runs, 3 RBI) and Lance Loftin (3-for-4, 2 runs, 2 RBI) was too much for Siena as the trio went a combined 10-for-14 with eight runs scored.
