March 1, 2009
Box Score
EDINBURG, Texas - The UT Arlington baseball team finished play at the Al Ogletree Classic in Edinburg, Texas, with a 3-2 loss against Illinois on Sunday at Edinburg Baseball Stadium. The Mavericks and Fighting Illini combined for six errors in the contest that lasted 2 hours, 12 minutes. The victory gave Illinois the tournament championship with a 3-0 record.
Despite UT Arlington (4-4) out-hitting Illinois 7-5, the Fighting Illini capitalized on three UT Arlington errors in a three inning span (4th-through-6th) that saw Illinois (5-1) score all three of its runs to earn its fifth victory of the season.
UT Arlington starter Jason Mitchell posted four strikeouts in the first two frames, including striking out the side in the second. The Mavericks, meanwhile, had only two base runners after three innings with a double by Tim Steggall in the first and Preston McCoy reaching base on an error in the third.
The Fighting Illini scored the first run of the game in the fourth inning following two UT Arlington fielding errors that extended the inning. Joe Bonadonna, who led off the inning, reached base on a dropped fly ball by Preston McCoy and then scored on a sacrifice fly.
Mitchell had his no-hit bid broken up after 4 2/3 when Craig Lutes reached base on an infield single and then scored on a triple off the base of the right-field wall by second baseman Josh Parr to give the Illini a 2-0 advantage.
Following an Illinois run in the sixth, UT Arlington scored its first run on back-to-back doubles by designated hitter Matt Otteman and right fielder Blake Holt in the seventh inning. Holt's double down the right-field line scored Otteman for the Mavs' first run of the game.
The Mavericks scored an unearned run in the eighth inning when sophomore Michael Choice hit an RBI single to center field scoring McCoy, who reached on an error by Illinois shortstop Brandon Wikoff, cutting Illinois' lead to one run.
Pinch hitter Andrew Kainer tried to rally the Mavericks in the bottom of the ninth as he hit a ball deep to left field that hit the wall, giving him a stand-up double. But the Mavericks weren't able to score the tying run as catcher Chad Comer grounded out to second base and first baseman Shane Hopkins struck out swinging to end the game.
Illinois' starting pitcher Ben Reeser collected his first win of the season and junior John Anderson tallied his first career save for the Fighting Illini. Mitchell recorded the loss pitching six innings, allowing four hits, three runs (two earned), one walk and striking out five.
UT Arlington reliever Andy Sauter pitched the final three innings for the Mavs allowing one hit and one walk with two strikeouts.
Otteman was the only Maverick with multiple hits going 2-for-4 while extending his hit streak to eight games. Otteman is now leading the Mavericks hitting .424 (14-for-33).
UT Arlington will return to Clay Gould Ballpark on Tuesday, March 3, to host No. 16 TCU for a 6:30 p.m. scheduled first pitch.
