March 23, 2012
Final Stats
HAMMOND, Louisiana - UT Arlington squandered a three-run lead late and dropped the opener of a three-game series to Southeastern Louisiana 8-7 on Friday night at Alumni Field.
The Lions scored the deciding run in the bottom of the ninth, capping a rally from 7-4 down with Jonathan Pace's RBI hit down the right-field with one out off UTA reliever Adam Westbrook. The Mavericks had overcome an early 4-1 deficit with six unanswered runs in the middle innings.
UTA dropped to 13-9 overall and 3-4 in the Southland Conference, falling a game behind of the Lions in the process. SLC is 16-6 and 4-3 in the league.
Matt Shortall had given UTA the lead with a three-run blast in the fifth and Mavericks starter Collin Reynolds battled into the seventh inning. But the bullpen couldn't close it down, as SLU scored in its last three innings.
UTA padded its lead with two runs in the sixth to lead 7-4. Ryan Walker had a sacrifice fly to score Greg McCall and Michael Guerra drove Jake Pinchback across with a single to left.
The Mavericks took their first lead of the game by putting up a four-run fifth. Preston Beck brought the first run home with a double in the right-center gap, but it was Shortall's three-run bomb off the scoreboard in left that carried UTA into the lead.
UTA cut the Lions' deficit in half in the fourth by turning hits and sac fly into a run. Preston Morrow doubled with one out and advanced to third on Jordan Vaughn's single up the middle. McCall's fly ball to right brought Morrow home.
Southeastern Louisiana responded with two runs in the bottom of the inning, getting to Reynolds for four hits. One of the hits was a misplayed popup behind first base to open the frame.
The Lions struck quickly in the first, using their speed to cause havoc on the basepaths. Harry Slade and Brock Hebert, the two SLU runners to get aboard in the inning, each stole a base before scoring. The Mavericks were down 2-0 going into the second.
UTA did help itself in the field throwing out four Lions on the bases, including one at home, another picked off first and two attempting to steal.
The series is important for both teams, which entered the weekend in a five-team pileup tied for fifth in the conference.
The teams return to the diamond Saturday for a 2 p.m. scheduled first pitch. UTA sends undefeated righty Lance Day (6-0) to the mound. The three-game set concludes Sunday at 1 p.m.
