April 19, 2015
Final Stats
By Michael Eldridge | @DFWSportsMike
ARLINGTON, Texas -- UT Arlington left the bases loaded to end the game, dropping a 5-4 decision Sunday to Georgia State at Allan Saxe Field in Sun Belt play.
The Mavericks (27-22, 8-10) battled back from a 5-0 deficit with a four-run third, but left eight on base overall, including Sandra Mendoza at third to end the game. Nina Villanueva led the Mavs with a 2-for-2 day, adding a RBI and a run.
"That is a good ball club," UT Arlington coach Kristie Fox said. "They are a good team and have a good RPI. It would have been nice to take two from them at home but we can't live and die in one series. The truth of the matter is that we have to finish out strong and do the best we can to get a good placement for the conference tournament."
Georgia State built up its lead with three home runs scattered over the first three innings before UTA made its run.
Back-to-back doubles followed Mendoza's walk to start the third as UTA scored its first runs of the game.
Meagan Michele helped cut the lead to just one run as she powered a two-run homer to left-center field on a 2-2 count. Michele, hitting her 12th home run of the season, tied Rebecca Collom (2011) and Amanda Swofford (2008) for third in UTA's single-season list. It was also her 23rd of her career to put the UTA third baseman in sole possession of fourth in the all-time career list.
The Mavericks finish the season with just two series remaining. UTA travels to Troy for a three-game series beginning on Saturday before welcoming in-state rival Texas State to close out the season the following week at home.
Fox looks forward to seeing how the team closes out the season.
"We have matured a lot," Fox said. "This team has great character and class. If you come to any games, in comparison, you can see how they handle themselves. You can see how well they fight and compete and stick together. They don't make it about themselves. I am very proud. The Sun Belt is a very tough conference, there are not any weekends off."
NOTES: Georgia State leads all-time 4-3 after claiming the series. ... Nina Villanueva scored her 51st run of the season to remain ahead of Sandra Mendoza (50) for the single-season UTA runs lead.
