UT ARLINGTON HILTON INVITATIONAL DAY 1

Feb. 24, 2012

UTA/HBU Final Stats

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Arlington, Texas - John Beck tossed six innings and Preston Beck drove in three runs to lead UT Arlington to a 6-3 victory over Houston Baptist in the second game of the Hilton Invitational on Friday afternoon at Clay Gould Ballpark.

UT Arlington coach Darin Thomas, however, was disappointed with the runs the Mavericks left on the bases.

"I didn't like our approach at all today," Thomas said. "We didn't play with any intensity for the first time this year. I thought we didn't have a very good approach at the plate."

John Beck (1-0) scattered 10 hits, but worked his way out of trouble and allowed just two earned runs. The sophomore righty struck out six before exciting before the seventh with a 6-3 lead.

"I'm proud of John," Thomas said. "He worked around a lot of pitches early in the game and got us into the seventh."

The bullpen took it home from there. Adam Westbrook, Michael Morales and Chad Nack allowed just one hit over the last three innings. Morales induced a double-play in the eighth and Nack worked a perfect ninth to pick up his second save.

The Mavericks (4-1) found themselves down 2-0 before coming up to bat. UTA struck for three runs in the bottom of the frame on the strength of just one hit.

Derek Miller started it off for the Mavericks with a single - that was the only UTA hit through three innings - before the Huskies helped out. Ryan Walker walked, Preston Beck reached on an error that scored Miller and Walker. Beck later came home on a back by HBU starter Ryan Lower.

The Mavericks finished off the scoring on Beck's 2-run double in the fourth.

UTA returns to action Saturday for a 3 p.m. scheduled first pitch against Missouri State.

Missouri State 5-8, Stephen F. Austin 4-3

Nick Petree went seven innings for Missouri State, which won the opening game of the Hilton Invitational 5-4 over Stephen F. Austin. Leadoff hitter Spike Helms set the table for the Bears by going 5-for-5 at the plate and scoring once.

Helms came up big again in the nightcap, with a grand slam in Missouri State's 8-3 victory. The Bears improved to 4-2, while the Lumberjacks fell to 1-5.