May 3, 2014
Final Stats
Probable Sunday Pitching Matchup
UTA: Zach Thompson (3-4, 5.77) vs. UALR: Cameron Allen (4-4, 3.94)
LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas - The inability to consistently throw strikes early cost UT Arlington in Saturday afternoon's 8-6 loss to UALR at Hogan Field.
The Mavericks dropped to 23-25 overall, failing to get to .500 for the first time this season, and 12-11 in the Sun Belt Conference. UTA also had its four-game winning streak snapped. The Trojans improved to 21-25 and 7-16.
The series is on the line with Sunday's rubber match starting at 1 p.m. Zach Thompson is on the mound for UTA, while Cameron Allen starters for UALR.
The Mavericks issued five walks in the first two innings to fall behind 6-3. UTA starter Brad Vachon typified those struggles, getting only two outs in seven batters faced.
The Mavericks got in the scoreboard first, just as they did Friday, with three runs in their first at-bat. UTA's first two runners reached without the benefit of a base hit. Derek Miller was hit by a pitch and Eric Tate walked. Matt Shortall's infield fly was dropped by the second baseman, allowing Miller to move to third.
The Trojans couldn't turn a double play Ryan Bottger's grounder, which allowed Miller to score. Greg McCall followed with his eighth home run of the season - a two-run shot off UALR starter Sam Thoele to right - for a 3-0 lead.
Vachon couldn't make it stand or get out of the first inning. Austin Pfeiffer led off with a homer for UALR, and after two RBI singles, Vachon was pulled in favor of reliever Zach Hobbs.
UTA pitchers continued to struggle in the second, as four walks helped lead to three runs for the Trojans. Jess Amedee walked in two with the bases loaded.
The Mavericks pulled with 7-5 in the sixth on a two-run error. Shortall's chopper to third with the bases loaded and two outs was thrown over the first baseman, allowing Miller and Travis Sibley to score.
After the Trojans pushed across a run in the seventh, UTA answered with one in the eighth. Darien McLemore and Sibley opened the inning with hits, and McLemore came home on Miller's sacrifice fly.
