May 6, 2015
Final Stats
By Michael Eldridge | @DFWSportsMike
SAN MARCOS, Texas - A record-breaking campaign came to a close as UT Arlington fell to ULM 6-1 in the Sun Belt Championship first round on Wednesday.
The Mavericks closed the season with a 27-28 overall record, their best win total under UT Arlington coach Kristie Fox in her three seasons. The team wrapped up the year with season highs in batting average, runs, RBI, hits and walks.
"We have grown a lot," Fox said. "The good thing is that we just lose two seniors and we were young in the circle. We had a lot of young players on our team and I am looking forward to their future and us getting better. Overall, I am really proud of this group and they broke a lot of records and it is a stepping stone looking forward."
The Warhawks touched up the Mavericks for six runs in the second, five coming on two outs. The Mavs had a chance to get out of the inning without a run crossing, but were unable to close out ULM hitters after getting two strikes.
Sophomore Kacey Everett led UTA with a two-hit game, while the Mavs also picked up hits from senior Nina Villanueva and sophomore Mallory Foster.
UTA's lone run of the game came from Everett's single in the seventh to score Britnea Barilli.
Barilli, one of five juniors coming back for 2016, is taking positives from what the team accomplished.
"This season started off so strong and we broke so many records coming out of the gates," Barilli said. "So many people had great seasons and it is a bummer in the way it ended."
Villanueva and fellow senior Meagan Michele marked the end of their UTA careers. Villanueva leaves the program with the second-best career batting average at .363. Her 2015 average of .408 is second in single-season history.
Barilli said the senior duo meant so much in helping set a foundation for the future.
"They are two of my closest friends on the team," Barlli said. "Nina is my best friend and seeing her and not playing with her is going to break my heart. She was such a great player. Meagan is always making people laugh and it is going to be a bummer not seeing them on the left side next year."
The Mavericks left seven on base in the matchup with the Warhawks. A stat Fox attributes to a late-season slump that was not characteristic of how the team performed for much of the season.
"Overall, throughout the season we did a good job of taking advantage of our opportunities," Fox said. "We did a better job of it at the beginning of the year. We slumped a little bit at the end of the year and that is not what championship teams do. You have to peak at the right time and I think we peaked a little early, but at least we peaked at all and I am happy about that."
Despite the emotions of losing two seniors, Barilli added the returning group is already looking forward to next season.
"We need to just go back to work and go back on the field," Barlli said. "I can't wait for the incoming freshmen and transfers to come in. We just need to keep on working. We accomplished so much this season. We need to keep on maintaining the goals that we had this year and end a little bit stronger, and we will be two times better next year."
