Final Stats

By Drew Harris | UTAMavs.com

ARLINGTON, Texas - UT Arlington (19-2) fell for the second straight time, dropping an 8-0 decision to Samford (12-11) in five innings on Sunday morning in the final game of the Maverick Classic.

"The team had a lot of energy this morning, we just didn't play our best," UTA coach Kristie Fox said. "We hit the ball hard and they made the plays, and they hit the ball hard and we didn't make the plays. That's the difference between yesterday and today."

After facing the minimum in the first, freshman right-hander Samantha Clakley (9-1) ran into trouble in the top of the second. After an infield single, Samford followed with a long double to right-center and a two-run single to center to take a 2-0 lead.

In the third, the Bulldogs plated three runs before the first out was recorded, as the first five batters reached base courtesy of a hit batter, fielding error, bunt single, walk and a two-run single.

Samford tacked on a sacrifice fly and another RBI base hit to make it a five-run inning and stretch the lead to 7-0. Samford was able to shorten the game to five innings after posting a single tally in the fourth off Brooklynne Simbeck.

Clakley worked three innings, allowing seven runs (five earned) while walking one and striking out a pair in her first collegiate loss. In relief, Simbeck gave up one unearned run on one hit and a walk over two frames.

Samford's Jessica Stone (5-3) limited the Mavericks to singles by Sandra Mendoza and Britnea Barilli in the shutout. She walked two and fanned two.

"We're going to back to work hard this week," Fox said. "We learned a lot this weekend about what we need to do to get better. We have to be mentally and physically prepared to play again Thursday."

UTA returns to Allan Saxe Field Thursday with a double header against Cleveland State beginning at 1 p.m. The Mavericks will begin the Sun Belt Conference season at home Saturday with a three-game set against No. 5 Louisiana. Tickets for all UTA home games can be purchased at UTATickets.com.