March 27, 2011
Final Stats
ARLINGTON, Tex. - Michael Guerra's 11th-inning RBI single drove home Ryan Walker and lifted UT Arlington to a 4-3 win over Northwestern State on Sunday afternoon at Clay Gould Ballpark.
For Guerra, who missed the previous six games with an injury, providing the fourth walk-off win for the Mavericks (14-10, 6-3) meant even more.
"It was awesome," Guerra said. "I was going crazy sitting on the bench last week. It was a good feeling and a great win."
UTA trailed for most of the game. The Mavs drew even in the seventh when Guerra's two-out RBI single bounced off shortstop Nick Hinojos' glove on his diving attempt. Daniel Jordan scored on the play, tying the game at 3.
Guerra had another chance to play hero in the ninth when he came to bat with the winning run on third and one out. He hit a chopper to Hinojos, who threw Philip Incaviglia out at the plate. The Demons (7-16, 2-7) escaped the inning a batter later.
After that, Guerra changed his approach.
"In the ninth I was trying to do way too much with it," he said. "The next time I just wanted to see the ball and take an up-the-middle approach and hit it hard."
UTA head coach Darin Thomas said after the game that nothing has come easy for the Mavs this season. The last three Sundays have provided series-deciding games and have gone into extra innings.
Nonetheless, Thomas' team has now rattled off series wins in each of the first three Southland Conference sets this season and sits at 6-3 in league play.
Winning a third consecutive Sunday would not have been possible without a stellar performance from the UTA bullpen. Four pitchers, led by Calan Pritchard combined to throw 7.0 scoreless innings, holding Northwestern State to six hits.
"The bullpen was really good," Thomas said. "We used our lefties. We had to because their left-handed hitters were some of their better guys. Our relievers really gave us a chance to win today."
Pritchard entered in the fifth and threw 4.0 scoreless innings with a couple strikeouts.
Michael Morales, Brody Walker and Kasey Merck each made scoreless appearances as well. Merck picked up the win, his second of the season, by working a perfect 11th.
Mason Melotakis took the tough-luck loss. The southpaw entered in a tied game with two on and one out in the eighth. He retired the next two hitters to end the threat and then tossed scoreless frames in the ninth and 10th to extend the game.
He saw the game unravel with two outs in the 11th. Walker looped a double off the glove of left fielder Stephen Gandy's diving try before Guerra's game-winning hit.
Matt Farmer put the Demons on the board in the first with a two-run home run down the right-field line. Farmer struck again in the third with an RBI single to right field, plating Drew Helenihi.
NSU starter Colin Bear retired the first 10 hitters he faced, mixing in four strikeouts. The Mavericks did not get a baserunner until Guerra struck out but reached on a wild pitch.
Preston Beck made the Demons pay a batter later when he drilled an 0-2 offering into right-center field for a fourth-inning RBI double.
Brian Nephew pulled the Mavs closer in the sixth with an RBI single to right-center field. His hit scored Walker and improved the third baseman's hitting streak to 17 games.
John Beck started, but did not factor in the decision. He lasted 4.0 innings, giving up three runs on five hits.
Bear kept the Mavs off balance through his 6.2 innings of work, limiting them to five hits. UTA managed three runs - two earned - off Bear, who struck out eight and walked one. Bear stayed in as the designated hitter after his day on the mound came to a close. He finished with three hits and a walk.
"Colin Bear is really good," Thomas said. "He's Babe Ruth - hitting, pitching. He can do it all."
UT Arlington returns to the field Tuesday when it hosts Texas A&M at Clay Gould Ballpark at 6:30 p.m.
