March 16, 2013
Final Stats
By Taylor Wright | UTAMavs.com
ARLINGTON, Texas - UT Arlington fell to McNeese State 10-5 in game two of the series at Clay Gould Ballpark. The loss moved the Mavericks to 9-9 on the season.
"When we get behind it's tough to come back," UTA head coach Darin Thomas said. "Little things that we should do on an everyday basis, we didn't do today."
Starting pitcher Zach Thompson fell to 1-2 with the loss. Matt Shortall led the Mavs with three hits in five at bats with a homerun, three RBI and two runs scored. Ryan Walker also contributed three hits in five at bats with one run scored in the contest.
Shortall singled in the bottom of the first to extend his consecutive game hitting streak to nine. Back-to-back singles from Justin Copeland and John Michael Twichell would load the bases for the Mavs with two outs. A walk to Derek Miller would give UTA their first run of the series against the Cowboys (10-7) and a game two lead, 1-0.
A McNeese error scored another before the Mavericks were retired in the bottom of the first with a 2-0 lead. The Cowboys would come back within one run in the top of th second inning after a fielder's choice scored the runner on third. The Mavs were unable to extend their lead as they left two stranded on the corners in the bottom of the second inning.
A leadoff Cowboy double would start the top of the third inning and give them their first hit of the game. After a sacrifice bunt moved the runner to third, the McNeese threat would come to an abrupt end. Following a fly out the left, the Cowboy at third left early on the attempted tag up and was called out to end the inning.
A double down the left field line followed by a single up the middle would give McNeese the lead in the top of the fourth inning, 4-2. Yet another double down the left field line would put two Cowboys in scoring position in the top of the fifth. A McNeese hit by pitch would load the bases with one out and bring in Keegan Hucul to relieve Thompson.
Back-to-back McNeese singles would extend the Cowboys lead to five, 7-2. A sacrifice fly to center field and a single through the right side would give McNeese a 9-2 lead. Daniel Millman would enter to pitch for the Mavs with two outs in the top of the fifth inning.
The Cowboys would tack on another run in the top of the sixth and push their lead to eight, 10-2. Shortall tagged a three-run home run, his second of the season, over the right field fence in the bottom of the sixth to bring the Mavs within five, 10-5. A two-out single up the middle from Walker would be the beginning of a Maverick rally in the bottom of the eighth.
Shortall's well hit ball to the left center gap but would be held up in the wind to end the UTA threat. Sam Hansen entered the game for the Mavs in the top of the ninth and held the Cowboys scoreless. UTA would be retired in order in the bottom of the ninth and fall to McNeese State 10-5.
The Mavericks will close out their series against McNeese State tomorrow, March 17 at 1:00 p.m. at Clay Gould Ballpark.
