April 9, 2009
Box Score
ARLINGTON, Texas - Andrew Kainer led off the bottom of the 10th inning with a walk-off home run over the left-field fence to complete UT Arlington's comeback over McNeese State, giving the Mavericks an 8-7 win at Clay Gould Ballpark in Arlington. The Mavericks (17-15, 10-6) trailed 7-5 before tallying runs in the final three innings to win their seventh conference home game this season. McNeese State (14-15, 5-11) drops its fourth straight conference game in the loss.
"Our long relief with Brian Watson and Matt Otteman really won the game for us," head coach Darin Thomas said. "We only gave up two runs from the fourth to the 10th inning and that allowed us to come back and win."
The game's momentum went two different directions in the early going with UT Arlington scoring five runs in the opening two innings and the Cowboys put up five runs in the third frame.
With two outs in the first inning, catcher Chad Comer gave the Mavericks a 3-0 lead with a double to left field that scored Blake Holt (fielder's choice), Michael Choice (double) and Matt Otteman (walk). UT Arlington added two runs in the second inning on an infield single by Otteman and a sacrifice fly by Comer to take a 5-0 lead.
UT Arlington starter Andy Sauter lasted only 2 2/3 innings, allowing seven hits and five runs with a walk - as he gave way to Maverick relief pitcher Brian Watson in the third inning.
Watson entered the game with the game tied at 5-5, and followed with 3 1/3 scoreless innings without allowing a base hit until the sixth inning. Watson was taken out of the game after allowing the Cowboys to take the lead with two runs and three hits in the sixth inning.
That would be about all of the offense the Cowboys would receive the rest of the game as Otteman entered the game on the mound in the seventh and finished the game allowing only one hit with a season-high five strikeouts and three walks in a season best four innings pitched.
Otteman battled to win his first game of the season after walking the lead-off batter in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings and allowing the lead-off batter to reach base in the 10th inning on an infield single - the only hit the Cowboys recorded off Otteman.
UT Arlington came within a run on Comer's fourth RBI of the game in the eighth inning - on a sacrifice fly - before tying the game in the ninth inning on a single to right field by Jay Pitschka.
"Our bullpen was outstanding today," Comer said. "Otteman and Watson were unbelievable coming out of the pen and both of those guys threw up a lot of zeros for us and gave us a chance to win."
Kainer ended the game on one swing with a 2-1 count in the 10th inning as he blasted his third homer of the season.
"I was feeling a little bit off at the plate tonight, so I knew I wanted to see a fastball," Kainer said. "I wanted to hit something hard and I got a good pitch to hit and I squared it up."
"Our pitching is what keeps us in ball games and allows our offense to come back to win games," Kainer said. "If our pitching and defense don't come up big by putting up zeros we don't have a chance to win that game in the 10th."
Watson and Otteman combined allowed only four hits and two runs with seven strikeouts in 7 1/3 innings pitched.
Comer led the team with four RBI going 1-for-3, Pitschka went 3-for-4 and Choice add a 3-for-5 performance. Kainer improved his career-high hit streak to 19 games going 3-for-5, which included the game-winning home run.
"Well, I think the home run tonight helps set the tone for tomorrow," Comer said. "We need to come out and score early tomorrow and have our pitching also step up and put up some zeros for us."
UT Arlington and McNeese State will continue their three-game series on Friday at 6:30 p.m. with the Mavericks sending right-handed pitcher Nathan Long to the mound to face McNeese State righty Matt Click.
