March 21, 2014
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Saturday Probable Starters
UTA - Jess Amedee (1-3, 6.67) vs. ASU - Chandler Hawkins (2-2, 4.97)
ARLINGTON, Texas - UT Arlington dropped its first Sun Belt Conference home game, 5-1, Friday night to Arkansas State at Clay Gould Ballpark.
The Mavericks fell to 7-15 overall and 0-4 in Sun Belt action. UTA also saw its two-game winning streak snapped. Arkansas State is 12-9 and 4-0.
"If I was a basketball coach, I'd say we have to step up and hit a wide-open jumper," UT Arlington coach Darin Thomas said. "Our margin for error is very slim right now. At some point we have to start hitting with runners in scoring position. It will happen.
"Daniel Milliman did a great job. He pitched outstanding out of the bullpen. Darien McLemore also had a good game and some good at-bats."
UTA starter Brad Vachon didn't have his best stuff, struggling with his control in a stint that lasted less than four innings. The Red Wolves took advantage and cruised to their sixth win the last seven games.
A-State starter David Owen (4-0) and two relievers limited the Mavericks to six hits. UTA left 11 runners on base, including the bases loaded in the second and sixth innings.
Vachon (1-5) ran into trouble immediately, as the first five Red Wolves reached base. One runner scored on a bases-loaded walk and another came home on a double-play ball, but the damage ended there.
What could have been a disastrous inning was avoided, keeping the Mavericks in the ballgame for the time being. UTA put together a two-out rally in the bottom of the second to score on run when Brady Cox walked with the bases loaded.
The Red Wolves chased Vachon with three runs in the fourth, taking a 5-1 lead. Vachon walked four, allowed seven hits and gave up five runs (all earned) in 3.2 innings. The senior right-hander had gone at least 6.0 innings in each of his last four starts.
The three-game series continues Saturday with a 2 p.m. first pitch.
