Feb. 28, 2010
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| 2000's All-Decade Team Ceremony 
ARLINGTON, Texas - UT Arlington fell short in its quest for a series sweep over Missouri State with a 5-4 loss on Sunday afternoon at Clay Gould Ballpark. A five-run fourth inning was all the Bears (1-5) needed to win their first game of the season while the Mavericks (2-4) rally in the late innings wasn't enough.
Missouri State starter Mike Kickham (1-0) was the winning pitcher throwing 7.0 innings and allowing six hits and four runs with six strikeouts and two walks. The Mavericks losing pitcher was freshman Brody Walker (0-1), who pitched 3.2 innings giving up six hits and three runs with three strikeouts and a pair of walks.
The Mavs jumped on the scoreboard first with two runs in the third inning on a deep sacrifice fly by Michael Choice and with a run-scoring single up the middle by senior designated hitter Steffan Guest.
The fourth inning was the difference maker as Missouri State plated five runs on four hits and two walks while sending all nine hitters to the plate.
Walker exited the game in the fourth after allowing three base runners, including a single up the middle, a walk and double to right field. Mavs' reliever Garrett Laird, who made his Maverick debut, issued a walk to the first batter he faced on four pitches before Kevin Medrano and Luke Voit followed with a single and double, respectively, to score three additional runs.
UT Arlington went in order in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. Brian Nephew led off the seventh with a single before Jesse Payne struck out swinging and Daniel Jordan hit into a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning.
The Mavericks staged a comeback attempt in the eighth after Bryant Lopez reached first base to start the inning on a fielding error by Medrano at second base. Sophomore Jordan Vaughn drove in Lopez with a double to center field and later scored on an RBI single through the left side by catcher Chad Comer to bring the Mavs with in a run (5-4).
With runners at second and third base and two outs, Missouri State brought in reliever Blake Barber who struck out pinch hitter Shane Hopkins to get out of the jam and to hold the lead. Barber finished the game to record the save.
The Mavs had one runner reach base in the ninth (pinch hitter Sam Hansen walked) before Vaughn grounded to shortstop Travis McComack to end the game.
Vaughn led the Mavericks going 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI while Choice went 1-for-3 with an RBI and Guest (1-for-4) and Comer (1-for-3) each added an RBI for the Mavs.
UT Arlington will play its first midweek game of the season on Tuesday, March 2, traveling to play Oklahoma for a 3 p.m. first pitch at L. Dale Mitchell Park in Norman.
