March 1, 2009
Box Score
EDINBURG, Texas - Senior Nathan Long threw his second career complete-game shutout while leading the UT Arlington baseball team to a 4-0 victory over UT Pan American on Saturday night in Edinburg, Texas, at the Al Ogletree Classic at Edinburg Baseball Stadium.
Long's dominating performance included scattering seven hits, walking two and recording seven strikeouts while throwing 113 total pitches. Long also threw a complete-game 1-0 shutout against Arkansas-Little Rock on Opening Day last season.
"Nate was outstanding," head coach Darin Thomas said. "That was similar to what he did against Arkansas-Little Rock last year. His performance really helped save our bullpen for the rest of the weekend."
The Mavericks scored their first run in the second inning on an RBI fielder's choice by left fielder Collin Garner, scoring senior Matt Otteman who led off the inning with a single.
Junior Shane Hopkins and sophomore Michael Choice led off the fourth inning and later scored on a double by Otteman and a groundout by senior right fielder Blake Holt, respectively.
Long and the Mavs held their 3-0 lead all the way until the top of the ninth inning when UT Arlington added an insurance run as Holt doubled down the left-field line and then scored on a throwing error by UTPA pitcher Mike Lankford in a failed pick-off attempt to second base.
Only once after the fourth inning did Long face more than three batters in an inning, as he cruised to his first victory of the season. UTPA only had one runner reach third base after the fourth inning, as Long and the UT Arlington defense helped its cause by turning double plays in the fifth and seventh innings.
"I felt really good today and had a lot of my pitches working" Long said. "I just tried to throw my fastball and sliders in the zone and try to get my defense groundballs. My defense did a great job tonight."
Offensively, UT Arlington had just three base hits until adding three hits in the ninth inning. Otteman went 2-for-4 and third baseman Jeff Storms went 2-for-3 to lead the Mavericks.
The victory marks the first road win for the Mavericks this season and their first at the Al Ogletree Classic.
The Mavericks will wrap up play in Edinburg on Sunday morning against Illinois at 9 a.m. Illinois enters Sunday with a 2-0 record in weekend play with victories over UT Pan American (8-0) and Stephen F. Austin (4-2).
AL OGLETREE CLASSIC RESULTS:
Friday:
Stephen F. Austin defeated UT Arlington, 12-6
Illinois defeated UT Pan American: 8-0
Saturday:
Illinois defeated Stephen F. Austin, 4-2
UT Arlington defeated UT Pan American, 4-0
Sunday:
Illinois vs. UT Arlington (9 a.m.)
Stephen F. Austin at UT Pan American (1 p.m.)
GAME NOTES:
UT Arlington is now 20-25 all-time against UT Pan American, which includes a 3-18 record in Edinburg... It was the Mavericks first victory over the Broncs in Edinburg since a 13-5 victory on March 17, 2004... It was the fourth time the Mavs have shutout UT Pan American and the first in Edinburg... UTA also shutout UTPA in 2005 (13-0), 1987 (1-0) and 1982 (4-0), all of which came in Arlington... The shutout is Long's second of his career, which is the most career shutouts by any current Mavericks' pitcher... Former Mavericks pitcher Dillon Gee recorded four shutouts in 2007... Long now has 48 career appearances on the mound, trailing Blake Pierson (2003-05) and Fred Wilburn (1980-83) by six for 10th all-time in Mavericks history... UT Arlington's pitching staff has allowed only four earned runs in its four victories this season, giving UTA a 1.00 team ERA in 36 innings during games won... Long didn't allow an extra-base hit against UTPA, marking the third time UTA hasn't allowed an extra-base hit this season... In the Mavericks' four victories, they have allowed only one extra-base hit (double, Arkansas State) in 36 innings... The Mavericks had collected at least eight base hits in their first six games this season, but tallied only six against the Broncs on Saturday night... Matt Otteman went 2-for-4 on Saturday improving his team best hitting streak to seven games... Otteman is currently third on the team batting .414 (12-for-29) with five multi-hit games... UT Arlington improves to 4-0 this season when leading its opponent after six innings... In three night games this season the Mavericks' pitching staff has recorded a 1.30 ERA in 27.2 innings with 27 strikeouts and seven walks... In night games this season, the Mavericks' defense is fielding .991, while committing their first error in a night game this season against the Broncs... The Mavs are also outscoring their opponents 11-0 in the sixth inning in three night games this season.
