April 18, 2010
Box Score
LAKE CHARLES, La. - Logan Bawcom struck out seven batters in 8.0 innings and All-American Michael Choice went 2-for-4 and hit a bases clearing double in the fourth inning to help give UT Arlington a 9-3 series-clinching victory over McNeese State Sunday at Cowboy Diamond.
The Mavericks (17-20, 10-8 SLC) have now won four of their last five Southland Conference series while the Cowboys (20-15, 10-8 SLC) drop their second straight conference series.
UT Arlington had 11 base hits, with every starting position player posting at least one. Steffan Guest joined Choice with a multi-hit game going 2-for-5 with two RBI.
With no score heading into the third inning, shortstop Jesse Payne was hit by pitch and Choice followed with a single through the left side to put two runners on base. Freshman right fielder Preston Beck drove in both runners with a two-run double to left-center field giving the Mavs a 2-0 lead.
UTA added to its lead in the fourth with six base hits and five runs. Third baseman Brian Nephew and left fielder Nick Orr put together back-to-back RBI singles to score first baseman Jordan Vaughn and second baseman Cody Dyvig.
Payne then welcomed Cowboy relief pitcher Zach Butler with a single through the right side to load the bases for Choice. In just his third at-bat this season with the bases loaded, Choice cleared the bases with a double down the left-field line.
The Mavericks tallied six consecutive base hits in the inning to take a 7-0 lead.
McNeese State scored its only runs in the fifth inning as seven batters came to the plate. Four of the first five Cowboys reached base and their two runs came with only one out.
Bawcom settled in and struck out three-hole batter Jace Peterson for the second out and then got cleanup batter Steven Irvine to ground out to third baseman Brian Nephew to end the inning with two runners on base as the Mavericks held a 7-2 lead.
Bawcom (3-3) scattered five hits while allowing two runs and two walks in 8.0 innings. It was Bawcom's fifth consecutive start pitching at least 7.0 innings and it was his third win in conference play.
UT Arlington added its eighth and ninth runs in the sixth inning on a two-run RBI single to left field by Guest. Orr and Choice scored on the RBI single, as Orr walked to reach base and Choice was issued his 11th intentional walk of the season (16th career).
Choice has now reached base safely in 49 consecutive games dating back to last season. In fact, Choice has reached base safely in 95 of his last 97 games dating back to his freshman season. In his career, Choice has reached base safely in 134 of 143 games played.
UTA reliever Garrett Laird pitched the ninth inning where he allowed one run on first baseman Bryn Thompson's fifth home run of the season.
Orr, Payne and Choice, the first three batters in the Mavericks' order, all scored two runs each to lead the Mavericks.
McNeese State starter Tyler Davis (2-4) was the losing pitching throwing 3.1 innings allowing six runs on seven base hits.
UT Arlington will take a midweek trip to No. 3 Texas on Tuesday, April 20, for a 6:05 p.m. first pitch at UFCU Disch-Falk Field in Austin, Texas.
