May 8, 2011
Final Stats
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ARLINGTON, Tex. - Matt Holland went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi completed the three-game sweep of UT Arlington with a 3-2 win Sunday afternoon at Clay Gould Ballpark.
The Islanders (29-21, 14-13) moved ahead of the Mavericks (25-24, 13-14) in the standings with the win.
"You have to give them credit because they came in and played really well," UTA coach Darin Thomas said. "At the same time, we're not playing well at all right now - especially defensively. We have a massive hangover from last Sunday when we blew the lead to Stephen F. Austin and we need to snap out of it in a hurry."
Daniel Jordan drove in both UTA runs and Ryan Walker compiled three hits in the loss.
Todd Simko battled through jams for the Islanders, holding the Mavs to two runs on seven hits in 5.2 innings. The southpaw walked four and struck out three in improving to 8-6.
Simko also helped extend UTA's frustration with runners on base. The Mavs stranded 11 in the defeat.
"We're just not coming up with the big hit in the big moment," Thomas said. "We will get runners in scoring position and then we just get nothing."
Sunday the defense let the Mavericks down as well. In the first inning, UTA starter John Beck retired the first two hitters before Holland reached on an infield hit. Then the Mavs committed a pair of errors to allow the visitors to get on the board first.
Beck lasted 5.2 innings, allowing two runs and striking out three. He was pinned with the loss, making him 2-2 on the season.
Collin Reynolds, Adam Boydston and Michael Morales held the Islanders scoreless over the final 3.1 innings.
"I thought our pitching today was very good and it gave us a chance to win this Sunday game," Thomas said. "The pitching wasn't the problem. I thought John Beck gave us a good start and then we got some nice work out of the bullpen today."
UT Arlington tied the game in the fourth when Jordan singled home Jesse Payne, who smacked a one-out double down the left-field line.
The Islanders responded with a pair of runs in the fifth when the rattled off four consecutive two-out singles. Trey Hernandez and Chris Vergne each delivered the RBI shots.
Jordan pulled the Mavs closer in the sixth with an RBI groundout to score Jordan Vaughn, who hit a triple to center field with one out.
UTA strung together a two-out rally, loading the bases before Chris Pena came on and recorded the final out to preserve the Islanders' lead.
Phillip Garcia came on to work a perfect ninth for his fifth save of the season, giving the Islanders their first sweep of the Mavericks in Arlington.
UT Arlington plays again Friday when it travels to Lamar for a three-game series. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m.
