April 26, 2013
By Taylor Wright | UTAMavs.com
ARLINGTON, Texas - The UT Arlington Mavericks swept Utah State with two extra-inning walk-off 1-0 wins. With the victories, the Mavericks improved to 20-24 overall and 5-12 in Western Athletic Conference play.
"We've overcome so much adversity this season and that has made us much stronger," UT Arlington head coach Kristie Fox said. "We've been in a lot of extra-inning games this season and they are finally turning out our way."
Game 1 starting pitcher Teri Lyles earned her 18th win of the season with the 1-0, eight-inning victory. Kallan Thompson and Britnea Barilli notched the only hits for the Mavs in the contest, and Taylor Zink was walked in the bottom of the eighth with bases loaded to win the game.
Game 2 starting pitcher Callie Collins improved to 3-13 with a 1-0 victory in eight innings. Thompson and Barilli once again had hits, along with Rachel Forshaw, who had two. Rebecca Stokes also notched a key hit in the bottom of the eighth to help propel the Mavs to another walk off win.
Game 1 Recap
Utah State starting pitcher Mandy Harmon and Lyles were both to start the game. The Aggies led off the top of the fourth with a double to left-center before a one-out sacrifice bunt would advance her to third. A groundball to shortstop Nina Villanueva would end the scoring threat for Utah State.
After Thompson's hit in the bottom of the first inning, the Mavs were held hitless until Barilli tagged a single up the middle with two outs in the bottom of the sixth. In an attempt to steal second and put herself in scoring position, Barilli was thrown out to end the inning.
With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Meagan Michele got hit by a pitch, but the inning would end on a lineout to third to force extra innings. Back-to-back Aggie errors followed by a hit by pitch to Stokes would fill the bases with Mavericks in the bottom of the eighth. Zink had a patient at-bat and despite the count running full, she earned a walk to defeat Utah State 1-0.
Game 2 Recap
Collins faced some early trouble from Utah State, but was able to strand two runners to end the threat in the top of the first inning. Thompson once again started off the bottom of the first with the Mavericks' first hit of the game but she would be sent back to the dugout on a runner-left-early call.
Barilli earned her second hit of the day with a single up the middle, but would advance no further as a groundout ended the third inning. Despite surrendering a hit and a Maverick error, Collins pitched out of some trouble from Utah State in the top of the fifth without giving up a run. Forshaw slapped a single down the right field line with one out in the bottom of the fifth but the game would stay locked at 0-0 as she was unable to score.
Utah State led off the top of the seventh inning with a single to right field before Thompson turned a double play to Stokes to quickly nab two outs. Both the Mavs and Aggies were not able to notch runs in the seventh inning and game two of the doubleheader also went into extra innings.
A single and a sacrifice bunt from Utah State began the top of the eighth inning but the runner would remain stranded on the bases behind solid defense from UTA. Forshaw notched her second hit of the game to start the Maverick half of the eighth inning. Stokes followed with an infield single before Thompson drove her in with a walk off single to defeat the Aggies 1-0.
The Mavericks will be back in action at Allan Saxe Field as they host Utah State in the final game of the series at 1 p.m. Saturday. Seniors Thompson and Lyles will be honored at the conclusion of the contest as it is their final home game of their careers.
