Feb. 28, 2014
By Taylor Wright | UTAMavs.com
TUCSON, Arizona - UT Arlington softball fell in both contests to open the Wildcat Invitational at the University of Arizona.
On day 1 of the tournament, the Mavericks (10-8) fell in back-to-back games to Longwood, 4-3, and Indiana, 8-5.
Callie Collins recorded the loss to Longwood and moved to 5-4 on the year. Collins allowed four runs on eight hits in 6.0 innings pitched with five strikeouts and no walks. UTA was held to four hits by the Lancers with singles from Rebecca Stokes, Jolene Schaefer and Marisa Datko as well as a double from Nina Villanueva.
Shannon Carrico moved to 4-3 on the season after earning the loss to Indiana. Britnea Barilli, Meagan Michele had three hits while Kacey Everett and Schaefer each had two hits in the win. Shelbi Sikes and Datko also recorded a hit against the Hoosiers. Barilli hit her first home run of her career in the game while Schaefer's home-run tied things up late with Indiana.
Longwood 4, UTA 3
Final Stats 
Longwood jumped out to an early 2-0 lead on a single, double and a Maverick error in the bottom of the first inning. UTA remained hitless and scoreless until Stokes plated Barilli on a single up the middle in the third frame. The scoring continued with a two-run, two-out double to right field from Villanueva to give the Mavs a 3-2 lead.
The Lancers tied the ballgame in the next half inning on a single through the left side and then regained the lead on a double to left, 4-3. Datko, in as a pinch hitter, singled to lead off the top of the seventh and was pushed to second on a bunt from Everett. The Maverick rally came up short with the tying run stranded at third as UTA fell to Longwood, 4-3.
Indiana 8, UTA 5
Final Stats
UT Arlington got on the board early with an RBI groundout from Villanueva to bring home Sikes in the top of the first inning. The Maverick lead did not last long as Indiana scored a run on a single to tie the game 1-1 in the bottom of the second. Barilli returned the control of the contest to UTA with a solo home run to right field in the third frame.
The Hoosiers responded once again to tie the game the next half inning on a Maverick error. Datko plated Lauren Ramsey, in as a pinch runner, on a two-out double into left center field in the fourth to restore the UTA lead.
With the bases loaded and two-out, an Indiana double would bring home two runs in the fourth to make it 4-3 in favor of the Hoosiers. As the leadoff batter in the sixth, Schaefer tied the ballgame at 4-4 with a solo shot to left field.
An Indiana grand slam in the next half inning opened up the game, 8-4. The Mavericks scored Michele on an illegal pitch but the Hoosiers would close out the game with an 8-5 win.
Both games against Arizona and Iowa on day 2 of the Wildcat Invitational were cancelled due to weather. The Mavericks will face Valparaiso on Sunday at 12 p.m. CT. Live stats and video streaming can be found at ArizonaWildcats.com.
