March 6, 2011
Final Stats
ARLINGTON, Tex. - Ryan Walker went 4-for-5, scoring three runs and driving in another and UT Arlington rolled No. 19 Wichita State 9-3 Sunday afternoon at Clay Gould Ballpark.
The Mavericks (6-5) have now won four consecutive games in as many days. The victory also marked the second over the 19th-ranked Shockers in four days.
"We're playing really well overall," UTA coach Darin Thomas said. "Today I didn't think we were really good. We were a little sloppy. Our tempo wasn't good. You can kind of expect that with playing four days in a row, but we got the win and we have some momentum going with a really good week."
UTA finished with 14 hits, marking the third consecutive game in which they have had 14-plus. Michael Guerra, Jordan Vaughn and Brian Nephew each had two hits and Preston Beck finished with two RBI.
Beck also ran his streak of consecutive games reaching base safely to 31 games.
UTA benefitted from five Wichita State errors and found ways to turn those miscues into runs.
Thomas said his team's recent change of fortunes in the batter's box has largely come from better opportunities to play the type of game suited to the Mavericks' skill set.
"I thought we had good at-bats in Houston," Thomas said. "We just got behind so quick we really couldn't do anything. The biggest difference is we're starting to get ahead and games and we're able to do some things on the bases."
The Mavs struck first in the first inning on Vaughn's two-out RBI-single to left that scored Walker. They added four more runs in the second, highlighted by Walker's RBI single and Beck's sacrifice fly.
Michael Morales (1-0) picked up the win in relief, hurling 3.0 scoreless innings while striking out three and allowing just one hit.
Wichita State cut the lead to 5-2 in the fourth before Morales entered and shut down the Shockers.
"Mo gives us one hit in three innings and overcomes first and second with no one out when he first got in there," Thomas said. "I couldn't be more proud of him. That's what we need: Guys to come in and grab the momentum back on our side. I thought Mo did a good job of that."
UTA added three opportunistic runs in the seventh and added another on an RBI single from Beck in the eighth.
Morales relieved Brody Walker in the fifth. Walker allowed just two runs in his 4.0 innings, but a high pitch count chased him one inning before he became eligible for the win.
Adam Boydston allowed one run in pitching the final 2.0 innings.
UT Arlington returns to the field Tuesday when its travels to Fort Worth for a contest at No. 8 TCU.
