Game 1 | Game 2

MONROE, La. -- UT Arlington split a Sun Belt doubleheader with ULM on Saturday at ULM Softball Complex.
 
A two-run homer in extra innings helped lift the Mavs to a 5-3 win in Game 1, while a five-run first was too much for UTA to overcome in the finale as ULM took Game 2 9-5.
 
"The girls competed hard in a very interesting environment, winning two back-to-back on the road is tough," UT Arlington coach Kristie Fox said. "I think we left too many runners on base and didn't take advantage of our opportunities, but they never quit."
 
Sophomore Shelbi Sikes broke the single-season RBI record for the Mavericks in Game 2. Sikes' two RBI in the first inning gave her 44 for the season to move past Dee Jay Nelson's 43 in 2007.
 
"Shelbi has been up in a lot of clutch situations this year and she has shown great maturity at the plate," Fox said. "She competes hard in the box and you can tell she likes to be the one up with runners in scoring position."
 
UTA concludes its series with ULM on Sunday at 12 p.m.
 
Game 1: UT Arlington 5, ULM 3 (9)
 
Kacey Everett lifted the Mavericks to an extra-innings victory after hitting a two-run homer in the ninth in Game 1.
 
Everett's home run came after ULM rallied to tie the game in the seventh with two runs. The Warhawks stranded the winning run on third.
 
Nina Villanueva and Sandra Mendoza each led with three hits in the contest. Villanueva featured two doubles that accounted for two RBI, while Mendoza scored a run to briefly tie Villanueva for the all-time lead for runs in a season with 45.
 
UTA starter Sam Montes pitched seven innings, allowing three runs (two earned). Taylor Simmonds came into the game in the eighth and earned the win to improve to 7-2. Simmonds gave up a walk and a hit in her relief appearance.
 
Game 2: ULM 9, UT Arlington 5
 
ULM used a five-run first inning to answer UTA's two in the top half to pull away in the finale of the doubleheader.
 
Sikes got things going for the Mavericks in the first with a two-RBI double to right field. Villanueva, scoring on the double, regained the lead for the single-season runs record at 46.
 
However, ULM came right back in the bottom half. The Warhawks put their first seven hitters on base with a hit-by-pitch sandwiched between six singles in the opening frame.
 
The teams exchanged a pair of scoreless innings before Mendoza cut into the ULM lead with a single up the middle in the fourth. UTA would leave the bases loaded.
 
The Warhawks offense came alive again in the fifth to plate four runs. ULM's first four hitters reached safely. A single with the bases loaded was coupled by a throwing error that equated to three runs crossing the plate. The rally continued with a triple in the next at-bat to complete scoring.
 
UTA attempted a late rally as Villanueva scored on a throwing error with two outs. Haley Henson brought home Sikes with a single through the left side for the Mavs' final run.
 
The Mavericks left two on in the seventh, eight overall.