April 29, 2011
Final Stats
NACOGDOCHES, Tex. - Jordan Vaughn's fifth hit of the game was a two-run double that broke a tie game in the 16th, lifting UT Arlington past Stephen F. Austin, 5-4 Friday afternoon at Jaycees Field.
UT Arlington squandered several opportunities in the game, but all those shortcomings vanished after Vaughn's hit allowed the Mavericks to take Game 1 of the series against the Lumberjacks, who entered the series tied atop the Southland Conference.
"Jordan's been swinging a really good bat lately," UTA coach Darin Thomas said. "Ever since Central Arkansas he has made some nice adjustments and has come up with some really big hits for us."
The game matched the longest in UT Arlington history. The Mavericks previously won 16-inning games against Sam Houston State in 2005 and Baylor in 1996.
Stephen F. Austin had a chance to tie it in the 16th, pulling to within a run by plating a couple in the bottom of the inning. Collin Reynolds came on in relief after the first run scored and threw a scoreless inning to earn his first career save.
John Beck earned the win by firing 5.0-plus innings, allowing just the two runs scored in the 16th. The true freshman gave up four hits and struck out three.
Michael Morales threw a couple scoreless innings in relief as well.
"I can't say enough about the job our pitchers did today," Thomas said. "We got off to a slow start, but we settled and that's the reason we were able to win the game."
Lance Day kept the Mavericks (25-18, 13-9) bounced back after allowing two runs in the first three innings but did not factor in the decision. The right-hander went 8.0 innings, giving up the two runs on seven hits. He walked one and struck out three.
For the most part, the SFA pitching staff matched UT Arlington. Jared West shut down the Mavericks through the first 6.0 innings, allowing just a single by Vaughn. They finally got to the SFA starter in the seventh when Philip Incaviglia drove an RBI single into center to score Chad Comer.
He was in line for the win when Comer doubled home Brian Nephew in the eighth to tie the game at 2.
Jason West threw 4.1 scoreless innings in relief, though he did not factor in the decision. Justin Braddock worked a scoreless 13th inning to earn his fourth win of the year.
The Lumberjacks (28-13, 15-7) jumped in front in the first on Darren Crabtree's RBI infield single.
Garrett Smith put Stephen F. Austin back on the board in the third when he laced an RBI double down the left-field line to score Michael Haynes.
Crabtree, Smith and Bryson Myles had three hits each for the Lumberjacks to lead the way offensively.
Vaughn paced the UT Arlington offense with five hits, including the biggest hit of the day.
Preston Morrow added an RBI single in the 16th to add an insurance run that proved crucial when SFA struck for two in the bottom of the inning.
The Mavericks continue the three-game series on Saturday when the two teams square off at Jaycees Field at 2 p.m.
