April 9, 2011
Final Stats
ARLINGTON, Tex. - Tyler Watkins fired 8.0-plus innings, holding UT Arlington to one run in leading Southeastern Louisiana to a 2-1 win Saturday afternoon at Clay Gould Ballpark.
The Mavericks had a chance in the ninth, scoring their first run and moving the tying run to third with two outs.
However, Southeastern reliever Stefan Lopez got a strikeout to end the game.
"We're struggling right now offensively," UTA coach Darin Thomas said. "We have to find ways to win when we're not hitting the ball especially well. There is a fine line between pressing and doing things the right way and we have to find ways to do things the right way."
Southeastern (22-10, 9-5) scored its only two runs in the second and never trailed. The Lions scored by collecting three consecutive singles, including an RBI knock from Cody Gougler. Brock Hebert later tacked on another run with a sacrifice fly.
Watkins (6-0) delivered the Lions into the ninth with that 2-0 lead intact. The right-hander stayed undefeated by holding the Mavericks scoreless on eight hits over 8.0-plus innings of work. He walked one and struck out two.
Lopez entered after Watkins allowed a leadoff hit to Preston Beck in the ninth. A Brian Nephew hit, a Jesse Payne sacrifice bunt and a Chad Comer gave the Mavs a bases-loaded, one-out situation.
Cody Dyvig gave UT Arlington its first run of the game when his RBI groundout drove home Beck. Lopez then struck out the next batter to earn his seventh save of the year.
The Mavs had another great chance in the fourth. With runners on second and third and one out, Comer lined a shot down toward third base. SLU third baseman Jonathan Pace snared the liner and beat Nephew to the bag for a pivotal, inning-ending double play.
Collin Reynolds (2-4) battled through 5.0 innings for the Mavericks (16-15, 7-7). He allowed two runs on nine hits with a strikeout.
Sam Hansen threw 3.0 scoreless innings, allowing one hit and two walks and Kasey Merck fired a scoreless ninth.
Nephew led the Mavs with three of their nine hits, including his 11th double of the season. Payne, Ryan Walker and Comer all had doubles.
The Mavericks turned four double plays in defeat.
UT Arlington looks to salvage the final game of the series Sunday when the two teams meet at Clay Gould Ballpark at noon.
