Final Stats

By Michael Eldridge | @DFWSportsMike

HAMMOND, La. - With the bases loaded in the final inning, UT Arlington relief pitcher Kayla Donaldson came on to get the final out and secure the Mavericks' 3-2 victory over Southeastern Louisiana to close out the Tangi Tourism Lion Classic on Sunday.

The Mavericks (4-1) scored the go-ahead run in the top half of the seventh as the Lions were unable to field a pop up by Meagan Michele, allowing Sandra Mendoza to cross the plate for the winning run. Donaldson replaced Taylor Simmonds in the circle to lock down the win over the tournament host.

"I thought we had a lot of opportunities to put this game away and we just couldn't come up with the clutch hit," UT Arlington coach Kristie Fox said. "On the positive side of that we created a lot of opportunities for ourselves. Kayla and Taylor both did a good job of keeping us in the game and combining to get us the win. These are the kinds of games you need early in the year to test your team and learn composure under pressure."

Mya Anderson led the Mavericks' offense with two hits, including her third homer of the season that came on a two-run shot in the first. Mendoza had three hits and two runs.

"Mya has true power that really helps in the middle of the order," She can change the game with one swing and we saw that a few times this weekend," Fox said. "After being off a year, I think Mya did a great job her first weekend back."

Simmonds earned her second win of the season after pitching two innings. Donaldson earned her first save despite starting the contest. The pitchers combined for eight strikeouts and just two earned runs.

Following UTA's two-run first, the teams would go scoreless into the bottom half of the third when Southeastern Louisiana tied the game at 2-2. The Lions used a four-hit inning to tie the game after two-run single came with two outs.

Southeastern Louisiana's defense kept the game tied in consecutive innings by robbing the Mavs of runs. Kacey Everett had a homer snagged at the fence in the fourth and Michele's hit to left in the fifth was caught by the diving right fielder.

Michele was finally able to help push the go-ahead run across in the seventh as her pop up was misplayed by the defense to put UTA up by a run.

The Lions had two hits and left three on in the seventh as Donaldson struck out the final batter to clinch the win.