4/29/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
UT Arlington (28-14, 7-11 SBC) vs Troy (28-19, 9-9 SBC)
April 30-May 1 | Allan Saxe Field| Arlington, Texas
Live Stats| Live Stream| UTA Notes
By Brooke Ortale | UTAMavs.com
ARLINGTON, Texas - In its final home games of the year, UT Arlington softball looks to send its seniors off on a high note with a three-game series against Troy.
"They are a good ball club," UT Arlington coach Kristie Fox said. "They swing the bats well and they have solid pitching. It's really going to come down to who makes the least amount of mistakes and gets that big hit."
The Mavericks lead the all-time series with the Trojans 4-3, but are looking to avenge a two-game sweep by Troy in a weather-shortened series last season.
Following the weekend, the Mavs conclude Sun Belt regular-season play with a three-game slate at Texas State on May 6-7.
Notes
Last Week Recap: The Mavs dropped their series at Georgia State, taking Game 1 before falling in Games 2 and 3.
The Mavs got on the board early in Game 1 thanks to a two-out RBI double by Kacey Everett in the first. With the game tied four in the sixth, Britnea Barilli drilled a 1-0 pitch over the centerfield fence. The Mavs added three in the seventh to extend their lead and give them the 8-6 victory.
The Panthers took the early lead in Game 2 on a home run in the first and never relinquished the lead. The Mavs score two in the third but couldn't muster a comeback, falling 7-2.
The Mavs fell in the rubber match Sunday, 4-2. The Panthers struck first with a home run in the first. The Mavs got on the board and took the 2-1 lead in the third, before Georgia State regained the lead, scoring three in the bottom half of the inning. Both teams were held scoreless through the next four innings.
Senior Weekend: This weekend marks the last three home games for the Maverick seniors. A ceremony to honor the five seniors will take place following the conclusion of the Mavs game against Troy on Sunday.
"It's a little bitter sweet," Barilli said. "I'm bummed that my softball career is coming to an end but it's awesome to see how far this softball program has come in the last four years and how much better they are going to be in the next coming years."
The class is led by Barilli who has started every game (203) in left field over the last four years. Her 40 runs scored in 2015 are good for eighth on the Mavericks single-season runs list. She is four walks shy of appearing on the single-season walks list for the third time in her career. Her 119 career walks place her second on the Mavericks all-time walks list.
Rebecca Stokes sits second behind Barilli in starts amongst active players with 199, playing nearly every game over the last four years at first base. Stokes has 76 RBI, setting a career-high 21 during her sophomore campaign.
Jolene Schaefer has played in 137 games, making 119 starts. The outfielder has scored 33 runs and 34 RBI. She has 12 doubles, three home runs and one triple on 69 hits.
Mya Anderson is a transfer from Chipola Community College in Tampa, Fla. In 51 games last she hit .331 with 33 runs and 41 RBI. Her 13 home runs put her 10th on the Mavs home run record.
Joni Hanke is in her second season at UTA after transferring from Crowder College. In her career as a Mav, the infielder is hitting .300 with three hits, three RBI and two runs.
Conference Standings: UTA sits seventh in the Sun Belt standings at 7-11 with two SBC series remaining. The Mavs play Troy at home April 29-May 1 before traveling to Texas State May 6-7 to close out SBC play. Texas State and Troy sit fourth and fifth in the SBC standings, each posting 9-9 records in conference play.
Streaking: Sandra Mendoza is riding her second 17-game hit-streak of her career. She opened the season with a hit in each of the first 17 games. She is approaching her career-high reached-base streak of 19, which she also set early in the season, reaching base in each of the first 19 games of the year.
Krista Rude is riding a seven game hit-streak. Her career-high 13 game hit-streak was set at the start of the year, recording a hit in each of the first 13 games of her career.
Shelbi Sikes has reached base in each of the last six games, setting a new season-high for her.
Mavericks in the Rankings: UTA sits 47th in the country and second in the Sun Belt in winning percentage (.667) and 88th in Division I and second in the SBC in batting average (.298). The Mavs lead the conference in doubles per game (1.36) and triples per game (0.24). UTA ranks third in the conference in scoring (4.95) and stolen bases per game (1.29).
The Mavs are just as good on the defensive side of the ball, sitting second in the conference and 95th in Division in double plays turned per game (0.33) and third in the Sun Belt and 54th in the nation in fielding percentage (.967)
Mendoza's .469 batting average is the eighth highest in Division I softball and second best in the SBC. She leads the SBC in doubles per game (0.29) and leads the conference and 23rd in the nation in on-base percentage (.537). Mendoza and Laura Curry are tied for fourth in the Sun Belt and 28th in the nation in triples with four, averaging 0.10 a game, good for fourth in the conference and 42nd in Division I.
Everett leads the conference and is fifth in the nation in sacrifice flies with five, while Stokes leads the Sun Belt and is 21st in Division I in sacrifice hits per games (.27). Curry ranks second in the SBC and 35th in the nation in sacrifice hits per game (0.24)
Samantha Clakley's three saves on the year tops the Sun Belt and is good for 40th in the nation. Her 17 victories are the fourth most in the conference and 34th most in Division I.
Underclassmen Lead the way: The underclassmen have played a major role in the team's success this season. Mendoza (sophomore) leads the team in most offensive categories. Mendoza is a team leader in batting average (.471), hits (66), triples (4), RBI (35), slugging percentage (.614) and on-base percentage (.537).
Rude (freshman) and Curry (freshman) are second and third on the team in batting average, hitting .407 and .341 respectively. Curry leads the team in runs, scoring 33 times on the year, while Rude is the team's stolen base leader, swiping 12 so far this season. Brianna Burchianti (freshman) has also played a major role in the team's success hitting .260 with 19 RBI, primarily as the designated player for the Mavericks.
Kayci Moore (freshman) and Cy'Andria Newton (freshman) have played vital roles off the bench for the Mavs scoring a combined 22 runs and stealing 12 bases in pinch running situations.
Clakley (freshman) has been dominant in the circle, recording a team-low 2.70 ERA with 111 strikeouts and 17 wins in 163.1 innings thrown.
Record Watch: Curry's 33 runs this season put her 10th on the Mavs single-season runs list. Katie Jones sits at the top, scoring 44 runs in 2007.
Compiling 66 hits on the season, Mendoza sits third on the Mavericks single-hits record, also chasing Jones at the top with 70 in 2007. Her 15 extra-base hits this season are four shy of a tie for 6th on the single-season extra-base hits list. Mendoza is tied for ninth on the Mavericks single-season RBI list with 35. Sikes set the single-season RBI record with 45 in 2015. Mendoza is on pace to break the single-season batting average record of .417, hitting .471 with two regular-season weeks left.
Sikes' 29 walks on the season places her in 10th on the single-season walks list. Barilli is four away from appearing on the list for third time in her career with 23 walks this year.
In the hunt for the Maverick all-time walks record, Barilli has 25 walks on the season to give her 119 in her career. She is second on the Mavericks all-time walks list with 119, chasing Jill Garro at the top with 141. Sikes has 68 career walks, putting her ninth on the list.
Milestone Watch: Barilli has started 203 games in her career, playing in every Mavericks softball game in left field over the last four years. Stokes has started 199 games, starting every game but three at first base in her career.
Barilli is one run away from 100 career runs scored, while Mendoza has scored 81 runs in her young career.
Everett has tallied 98 career hits, only two shy of century mark.
Chasing History: UTA's 19-0 start to the season was the best start of any program in UTA Athletics history, with the 1980's 9-0 start marking the best start prior to this season. The Mavs are chasing the 1983 team's 39 wins for most in school history. The Mavs are currently 22-4 on the year.
Up Next: The Mavericks close out SBC play with a three-game series at Texas State May 6-7.
Streaming on UTAMavs.com: All home games are video streamed at UTAMavs.com/collegesportslive. Subscriptions are available for $9.95 per month and $99.95 per year.
Can't Make the Game? If you are unable to catch UTA Softball action in person, follow on twitter @UTAMavs or on facebook via UT Arlington Athletics for live in game updates.
Tickets: Single game tickets and season tickets are available at UTATickets.com and by calling 817-272-9595. Parking is free for all games at Allan Saxe Field.
