MAVERICKS POUND PANTHERS IN NON-CONFERENCE DOUBLE-HEADER
4/15/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 15, 2009
Arlington, Texas - Arlington, Texas - The University of Texas at Arlington softball squad recorded back-to-back shutout victories against Prairie View A&M in a non-conference double-header at Allan Saxe Field on Wednesday, April 15. The victories improved UTA to 20-19 overall.
PVAM 0, UTA 6
The Mavericks plated six runs on nine hits in a 6-0 non-conference win over the Panthers of Prairie View A&M in game one at Allan Saxe Field. Junior Heather Fortenberry (7-6) improved on her overall record, throwing a one-hitter in 7.0 innings.
Newcomer Courtney Zink led the Mavericks offensively, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored and a RBI. Rebecca Collom went 3-for-3 with a double and an RBI while pitcher Fortenberry went 2-for-4.
The Mavs jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first frame after both runners scored on wild pitches. Fortenberry led off with a double down the left field line and Zink followed with a bunt single.
UTA plated its third run of the game after Fortenberry connected on her second double of the game which scored Charne Office from second. Office was issued a walk earlier in the inning.
After two scoreless innings by both teams, the Mavs extended their lead to 5-0 after plating a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth frame. Back-to-back singles by Zink and Samantha Chumchal started off the inning. Zink came around to score on a sacrifice fly ball to center field by Erika LeFlore and Collom double to right center plated Chumchal.
The Mavericks recorded their final run of the game in the bottom of the sixth inning when Office scored on a Zink single.
The Panthers lone hit came in the top of the seventh when Rebecca Martinez singled to left field.
PVAM 0, UTA 11
Five homeruns including three off the bat of designated hitter Brittany Washington was the highlight of game two's match-up against PVAM. The Maverick's pounded the Panthers, recording 11 runs on 12 hits in five innings of action in an 11-0 victory.
Sophomore Cassandra Nordie (1-2) picked up her first win of the season, pitching 5.0 innings, allowing three hits while striking out five batters.
Washington led the Mavs at the plate, going a perfect 3-for-3 with seven RBI's. Washington connected on her home runs in the first, second and fourth innings. With the bases loaded in the bottom of the second frame, Washington drove a pitch over the left field fence for her first career grand slam. All but three runs came off the bat of Washington.
Three consecutive solo home runs by Collom, Whitney Simpson and Washington gave the Mavs a 3-0 advantage after the first frame.
Washington's grand slam in the bottom of the second, extending the lead to 7-0 and a pair of runs in the following frame put the game well out of reach for the Panthers. Washington's final home run in the bottom of the fourth inning put the Mavs in a run-rule advantage over the Panthers.
In the top of the fifth, Nordie shut down Prairie View with three straight outs to end the game.
The Mavericks return to Allan Saxe Field for a three-game series against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, beginning Saturday, April 18. Game one is set for 2 p.m.
