Feb. 20, 2015
Final Stats |Photo Gallery
By Paul Watley | @WatP7
ARLINGTON, Texas - UT Arlington opened with its first game at Clay Gould Ballpark this season on Friday afternoon, taking down Southeastern Louisiana 7-0 due in large part to a seven-inning gem thrown by senior pitcher Chad Nack.
The win pushes the Mavericks to 2-3 on the season while Southeastern Louisiana falls to 4-2 overall.
Nack (1-0), who made his season debut last weekend with no earned runs in six innings pitched, continued the scoreless streak at the UTA Hilton Invitational, allowing only one hit in his time on the mound. In addition to allowing only one hit, Nack also struck out four batters while holding opposing batters to .053 at the plate.
"He's always going to give us a chance to win when he goes out there," UT Arlington coach Darin Thomas said."I thought he really competed with his fastball and threw the ball in and out. I'm very proud of him."
While Nack's performance on the mound played a key role in the victory, infielder Levi Scott also played a key role, registering 18 put outs while playing first base. Scott was able to show his efficiency at the plate as well, going 2-of-4 with two runs and three RBI.
"He's a guy we're counting on," Thomas said of Scott. "In both of our wins he's played a big part offensively and he's a good first baseman. He's a guy that we need at bat in the middle of the order."
The Mavericks were able to get on the board first as Scott registered his first home run of the season on a two-run shot over the right field wall, also bringing in RJ Williams.
UT Arlington extended its lead in the top of the third inning when Scott grounded out to the shortstop to bring Matt McLean in to score and push Williams to third. With Darien McLemore at the plate and two outs on the board, the Mavs pushed their lead to four runs with a single to right field that brought in Williams. McLemore finished the day going 3-of-4 at the plate with one run and two RBI.
Looking to gain a firm grasp on the game in the third, UTA was able to bring in a pair of runs when Travis Sibley hit a deep triple to centerfield that brought in Farrell and McLemore. The Mavs ended the inning with a 7-0 lead that they would fail to relinquish.
"It takes a lot of pressure off of me, but you still have to go out there and perform," Nack said of the support he receives from the Mavericks offense. "You have to bulldog through it more or less because we have two runs and if you take a pitch off that could be a two-run homer."
With Nack leaving the game after seven innings, the Mavs turned to sophomore pitcher Joel Kuhnel who allowed no earned runs and only one hit in his two innings on the mound.
UT Arlington recorded its seven runs on 12 hits with zero errors while Southeastern Louisiana was shut out with their two hits while committing no errors.
The Mavericks will wrap up action in the UTA Hilton Invitational on Saturday when they face Michigan State at 3 p.m. and Houston Baptist at 6:30 p.m.
