Feb. 14, 2016
Final Stats | Photo Gallery
By Michael Eldridge | @DFWSportsMike
ARLINGTON, Texas - UT Arlington completed its best start since 1993 after defeating Detroit 11-5 on Sunday at Allan Saxe Field.
The Mavericks wrapped up play in the UTA Invitational with a perfect 6-0 record, scoring 46 runs and knocking 58 base hits during the course of the weekend. Four UTA hitters knocked three hits in the finale as UTA produced a weekend-high 17 hits.
"Overall they did a good job," UT Arlington coach Kristie Fox said. "We had some really good bright spots and learned a lot. Winning six games in four days is tough to do. They fought through some adversity so I am very proud of them."
It was a pair of freshmen that led the way for UTA at the dish. Krista Rude and Brianna Burchianti each had eight hits in the Invitational. Burchianti had a team-high six RBI and six runs, while Rude scored four times and had an RBI.
In the circle, Samantha Clakley and Brooklynne Simbeck picked up two wins in as many starts. Clakley pitched 14.2 innings, striking out seven and giving up just one earned run. Simbeck pitched 8.0 with five hits and an earned run.
"I learned what certain people were capable of," Fox said. "We learned a lot a lot about our pitching staff, which was all positive and how we are going to use them. That is what this weekend is about in learning how people are going to perform in games against other people. Overall we learned a lot. Our defense is strong even though in one inning this game we didn't have it together. Even though we had one bad inning we found a way to win."
After striking first with two runs in the opening frame, Shelbi Sikes lifted UTA with a big hit in the third. Sikes cleared the bases with a three-run homer, UTA's lone home run of the weekend. UTA added two more in the inning to build a seven-run lead.
Detroit battled back to close the gap to just two with five runs in the fourth. However, UTA would plate a pair in each of the final two innings to push the game out of reach.
For Clakley, the weekend was a chance for the newcomers to match themselves up against the competition they'd see while at UTA. Clakley is taking what she learned this weekend to keep getting better each week.
"We are going to start facing harder and harder teams," Clakley said. "I just need to continue to grow and get better as a pitcher and take each pitch and each at-bat and learn from it each time.
UTA continues action at Allan Saxe Field when it hosts the Maverick Invitational beginning on Feb. 19. UTA opens the tournament against Princeton at 3:30 p.m., followed by a clash with South Dakota State in the nightcap at 6 p.m.
