May 10, 2009
Box Score
BEAUMONT, Texas - A bases loaded walk in the bottom of the 10th inning to second baseman Brian Taylor gave Lamar a 4-3 win and the series victory over UT Arlington on Sunday afternoon at Vincent-Beck Stadium in Beaumont, Texas. The back and forth battle was settled in the 10th inning as Lamar scored the winning run with three batters reaching base with a walk in the inning.
UT Arlington drops to 28-22 overall and to 18-12 in the Southland Conference while Lamar improves to 34-19 overall and to 18-12 in conference play. Lamar completed its home schedule on Sunday and finishes with an impressive 27-9 record at Vincent-Beck Stadium this season. The 27 wins is the most for a Lamar team since 1993.
The Mavericks held every lead in the game but never led by more than a run. The only lead Lamar took was when the game ended in the bottom of the 10th. Lamar won the game while not recording a hit in the 10th inning with three walks as six players came to the plate in the inning.
The Mavs scored the game's first run on Andrew Kainer's record-breaking 23rd double of the season. Kainer's RBI double broke the all-time UT Arlington single-season doubles record that was previously held by Adam Moore (2006) and Kasey Baker (2003).
Lamar reached the scoreboard with an unearned run in the bottom of the fifth inning to tie the score at 1-1, as Anthony Moore scored on a throwing error by third baseman Evan Raley.
Chad Comer gave UT Arlington a 2-1 lead with a bases-loaded RBI walk in the sixth. Michael Choice, who walked to lead off the inning, scored to give the Mavericks their second lead.
Mavericks' starting pitcher Jason Mitchell allowed the Cardinals to tie the game at 2-2 on a single to center field by pinch hitter Cameron Campbell. Mitchell exited the game after six innings while scattering seven hits and allowing two runs (one earned) with four strikeouts and issuing three walks.
The Mavericks grabbed their final lead at 3-2 on an infield single by senior Matt Otteman with two outs in the seventh inning. Otteman's chopper to shortstop brought in Jay Pitschka after he led off the frame with a single to right field.
UT Arlington saw the return of senior right-handed pitcher Andy Sauter in the seventh inning as Sauter made his first appearance since being sidelined with an injury after his last start against McNeese State on April 9. Sauter only pitched to two Cardinals on Sunday while allowing two base hits.
Lamar tied the score again in the seventh on an RBI single from Brian Taylor off UT Arlington relief pitcher Adam Boydston.
Boydston was the losing pitcher for the Mavericks as he allowed the winning run to reach base on a walk to lead off the 10th inning. The UT Arlington pitching staff combined to walk nine batters compared to Lamar's pitching staff that issued only one walk in the game.
UT Arlington was unable to overcome leaving 10 base runner stranded on base, including runners left in scoring position in the first, third, fourth, fifth, eighth, ninth and 10th innings.
Otteman led the Mavericks at the plate going 3-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI. Pitschka went 2-for-4 and made several standout plays defensively while leading all players with seven assists. Choice was the only other Maverick with multiple hits while going 2-for-5.
The Mavericks will close out their regular season next week hosting first-place Texas State for a three-game series at Clay Gould Ballpark, May 14-16. Texas State clinched the Southland Conference regular season title on Sunday with a series sweep over Nicholls. UT Arlington will look to secure a top four seed in the upcoming Southland Conference Tournament while hosting the Bobcats for their final home series of the season.
