Final Stats

By Michael Eldridge | @DFWSportsMike

AUSTIN -- Texas jumped out of the gates with a six-run first inning to defeat UT Arlington 8-0 on Wednesday night at McCombs Field.
 
The Longhorns (28-12) scored six runs on two outs, including a grand slam, in the opening frame to deflate the Mavericks (26-20) in nonconference action. The Mavericks finished with just one hit overall in the contest, a liner through the infield by Shelbi Sikes in the fourth.  
 
"I was kind of disappointed with our approach at the plate," UT Arlington coach Kristie Fox said. "We took way too many pitches and didn't compete when we got two strikes. That is something that we can control and go to work on to fix before the weekend."
 
Fox said that the objective for the team in the matchup was to gain experience from the situation of playing a top program.
 
"Overall, we came here and accomplished what we needed to," Fox said. "We have to get used to playing in big venues like this, we have to be used to playing top-25 teams, and we have to be used to the situations that these games bring on. I think we are taking baby steps and that our future is bright."
 
The Mavericks return to action on Saturday when they begin a three-game Sun Belt series against Georgia State. The teams open the series with a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.
 
UTA starter Sam Montes was a pitch away from getting out of the opening-inning jam. Following a walk and a single to open the game, Montes would get the next two out before a single through the right side of the infield scored a pair.
 
The damage continued with consecutive singles to load the bases and Randel Leahy's grand slam stretched the lead to 6-0. Montes fell to 13-11 with the loss as she was relieved by Taylor Simmonds to start the second.
 
Simmonds was a bright spot for the Mavericks as she was able to settle the team down from the circle. Simmonds pitched 3.2 innings, giving up two runs (one earned), while striking out two. The lone earned run came in the final at-bat as the Longhorns hit a home run to complete the run-rule.
 
NOTES: Texas improved to 23-2 all-time in the series. ... The meeting was the first between the programs since 2011. ... UTA's last win over the Longhorns came in 2001.