Final Stats

By Paul Watley | @WatP7

LAFAYETTE, La. - A strong showing from UT Arlington on the mound wasn't enough to claim the win as the Mavericks recorded just four hits in a 3-2 loss to Louisiana on Saturday night.

The Mavericks pitching staff kept the game close throughout, keeping the Ragin' Cajuns off the board for six straight innings heading into the ninth. However, a lead-off single to right field in the ninth set the stage for Louisiana to bring in the game winning run with a two-out single to the left side that allowed the Ragin' Cajuns to win in walk-off fashion.

"I'm proud of the way we pitched it," UT Arlington coach Darin Thomas said. "All three guys did a great job, but four hits is not going to win you many games and it didn't tonight. Two runs in two days isn't going to get it done. We just can't score."

The Mavericks and Ragin' Cajuns will square off in the series finale on Sunday with a 1 p.m. first pitch.

Brad Vassar came away with a strong showing, holding the Cajuns to four hits and two runs in his five innings on the mound. The McKinney native also struck out a pair of batters, while walking three.

Jacob Moreland (3-2) was a force for UTA out of the bullpen, allowing two hits and one earned run in his 3.1 innings on the hill. The junior right-handed pitcher started his outing by laying down his first six batters before giving up a single in the eighth.

UT Arlington (17-24, 8-12 SBC) registered three of its four hits in the second inning of play and was held hitless over the final three innings. Louisiana (27-15, 12-7) came away with three runs off of seven hits.

The Mavericks jumped out to an early lead in the game with a pair of two-out runs giving UTA the advantage. With a Christian Hollie single to shallow left field putting two on with two outs, Dalton DeLeon sent a 1-1 pitch to left field to bring in Jackson Morris. Eric Tate stepped into the box for the next at-bat and delivered with his single through the left side to push Hollie across the plate and give the Mavs a 2-0 lead.

The Ragin' Cajuns responded in the bottom half of the frame with a pair of runs. Louisiana's first run came with the Mavericks attempting to throw a stealing runner out at second which resulted in the runner on third stealing home. The next run came in with a two-out single to center field that tied the game.

The offenses for both teams settled down after the second as Vassar retired eight straight Cajun batters at one point, while UL's Evan Guillory went through 10 consecutive without allowing a Maverick on base.