SB: Focus on offense paying off in fall practice
10/24/2014 12:00:00 AM | Softball
By Michael Eldridge | UTAMavs.com
ARLINGTON, Texas - UT Arlington softball is showing confidence at the plate after a week in which the Mavericks spent time working on their offense.
Freshman infielder Sandra Mendoza took those lessons and ran with them in the intrasquad scrimmage on Thursday. Mendoza was 5-for-6 at the plate with two doubles, three singles, three RBI and three runs.
"I was working on staying through the ball this week in practice," Mendoza said. "I wanted to stay focused and after taking a few pitches at first, coach got after me and it really stuck, and I came to the plate saying I have to hit the pitches that I get."
Mendoza's team combined for 15 hits in two scrimmages, including a home run from senior Nina Villanueva.
UT Arlington coach Kristie Fox had the team taking batting practice against a live defense.
"It really worked out well in getting confidence at the plate," Fox said. "We swung the bat really well today, and I am really happy with the pieces coming together."
Fox also wants to stress situational hitting for the remainder of fall practice.
"We have been focusing on what is our job and what is the situation, how many outs there are, who is on base and what is going to help produce for the team," Fox said. "The fact that we have been able to split up makes it more of a possibility to have their minds start thinking about that."
The UTA softball team concludes fall practice on Nov. 5 ahead of the 2015 season at newly-renovated Allan Saxe Field.
