March 24, 2013
Final Stats
SAN ANTONIO, Texas - Zach Thompson benefited from an offensive explosion as UT Arlington run-ruled UTSA 15-2 to win the series on a chilly and windy Sunday afternoon at Roadrunner Field.
The Mavericks came back to take the last two games of the three-game set after dropping the opener Friday. UT Arlington leaves San Antonio at 12-11 overall and 2-1 in the Western Athletic Conference.
The Mavericks totaled 14 hits against six pitchers for UTSA, which dropped to 14-10 and 1-2. For the second straight day, each UTA starter had at least one hit. Matt Shortall racked up five RBI on three hits. The Mavericks scored 10 runs in the sixth inning to set a season high for runs in a game.
"We couldn't have played any better," UT Arlington coach Darin Thomas said. "The wind was blowing in. It started with Zach, and we put up a 5-spot and added to it. I'm proud of the effort.
"They got after us a little bit on Friday, and the last two days we've handled our business and got back on track. They were 11-1 at home coming into the weekend. It's just the first series, but to win two of three at a tough place tells a lot about the character of our team."
Thompson improved to 2-2 by allowing two runs on four hits over six innings, his second-longest outing of the season. The sophomore right-hander was staked to a 5-0 lead in the third as UTA sent 11 men to the plate and collected five hits. Two walks and an error also aided the Mavericks' cause.
Back-to-back singles from Derek Miller and Ryan Walker got it started for UT Arlington. A wild pitch allowed both runners to move up 90 feet, and spelled the end for UTSA starter Justin Anderson.
Shortall added to his team-leading RBI total with a bouncer up the middle off reliever Nolan Trabanino to score Miller. Justin Copeland had UTA's fourth consecutive hit, a single to left to bring Walker home.
With two outs, the Roadrunners made a second pitching change in the inning. Matt Sims was greeted by Jake Pinchback's roller up the middle that UTSA's second baseman couldn't handle to score Shortall. Two walks pushed Copeland home before Miller's ground ball ate up UTSA's third baseman. The error scored Pinchback for a 5-0 lead.
The Roadrunners threatened in the fourth, loading the bases with one out thanks to a single, hit batsman and walk. Thompson got out unscathed with an inning-ending 6-4-3 double-play.
Greg McCall led off the sixth with a line-shot double into the right field corner and Miller was hit by a pitch. They both scored on Shortall's double to left, which chased Sims. The Mavericks added eight more runs in the inning.
The Mavericks return to the diamond with a Tuesday night nonconference matchup at Texas A&M. WAC play resumes Friday with the start of a three-game series at Louisiana Tech.
