March 16, 2010
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ARLINGTON, Texas - Led by junior Mark Picca, the UT Arlington pitching staff combined on a two-hit shutout defeating Oklahoma Christian 5-0 on Tuesday night at Clay Gould Ballpark. The win was the Mavericks (6-10) first midweek victory of the season while Picca pitched seven scoreless innings while allowing two hits and matching a career-high with eight strikeouts.
Oklahoma Christian, who was coming off a series victory over No. 1 (NAIA) Lubbock Christian, falls to 10-8 on the season.
"I thought we did well tonight, and we really pitched well," UT Arlington head coach Darin Thomas said. "Anytime you can shut someone out in a midweek game that is a great performance, I was really proud of Mark's effort and we also got Jason and Mike some work."
Nick Orr went 2-for-4 with an RBI, Michael Choice added an RBI going 1-for-3 and Jordan Vaughn (2-for-5) and Daniel Jordan (2-for-4) each collected two hits.
Mavericks ace Jason Mitchell pitched a 1-2-3 eighth inning with a strikeout and Choice made his second appearance of the season pitching a scoreless ninth inning while escaping a bases loaded jam to end the game.
UT Arlington plated two unearned runs in the second inning to grab a 2-0 lead. Brian Nephew drove in Chad Comer with an RBI single to right-center field, and Nick Orr drove in Nephew with a sacrifice fly to left field.
The Mavericks scored a run in the third and fourth innings and added their fifth run on Choice's single through the left side. Choice also tallied two walks and now has 19 on the season (six intentional).
It was UT Arlington's second shutout this season (1-0, Missouri State - 14 inn.) and the fourth time they have allowed three or less runs in a game this season. The last time UT Arlington shutout a midweek opponent was in a 2-0 victory over No. 12 Baylor at Clay Gould Ballpark on Tuesday, April 12, 2005.
"This was a big win for us," Picca said. "We have been struggling in the midweek and needed a boast, hopefully this will get us rolling in the right direction."
Oklahoma Christian's only base hits came from second baseman Taylor Parcus and left fielder Dustin Andrews. Parcus singled in the first inning and Andrews doubled in the fourth.
The Mavericks and Eagles conclude their midweek series on Wednesday, March 17, as UT Arlington also wraps up its 10-game homestand with a 3 p.m. first pitch at Clay Gould Ballpark.
