March 11, 2011
Final Stats
HUNTSVILLE, Tex. - Ryan Walker had three hits and scored a run, but UT Arlington fell to Sam Houston State 4-3 Friday night in its Southland Conference opener.
Lance Day gave the Mavericks a chance to hang in the game through his 7.0 innings. However, his four walks and hit batsman came at inopportune times and allowed the Bearkats (12-2, 1-0) to score runs at critical junctures of the game.
Day did work out of trouble to keep the score close, including limiting the damage in a couple bases-loaded situations.
UT Arlington (6-7, 0-1) got an RBI hit from Chad Comer in the third inning, briefly taking a 1-0 lead. After that, though, SHSU starter Matt Shelton settled down, surrendering just an unearned run the rest of the way.
Shelton lasted 7.2 innings, scattering eight hits and walking just two.
The Mavericks scored their only other run when SHSU left fielder Payton Wisener misplayed Daniel Jordan's two-out single, allowing Cody Dyvig to score.
UTA didn't score again until the ninth, when Jesse Payne hit a pinch-hit single to left field to score Brian Nephew. Philip Incaviglia pinch ran for Payne, representing the tying run, and stole second with two outs. However, the Mavs were unable to score him.
In all, UTA left eight runners on base and out-hit the Bearkats 10-7.
Comer finished with two hits. He also threw out Ryan Mooney trying to steal, who was previously 14 for 14 on stolen base attempts.
The Bearkats scored their runs with some breaks and some luck. They scored in the third when Ryan Mooney's two-out groundball found a hole through the left-side of the infield and again in the fourth when Kevin Miller's blooper past second base fell between three hard-charging fielders.
Sam Houston State also scored on a John Hale RBI single and a Mark Hudson two-out, bases-loaded walk.
UT Arlington will try to even the series Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m.
