University of Texas Arlington
SEMO
SB: Big inning pushes Mavs to win
2/17/2017 12:00:00 AM | Softball
By Brooke Ortale | UTAMavs.com
HAMMOND, La. - A late-inning comeback, fueled by a five-run sixth led UTA softball to a 5-1 victory over Southeast Missouri on Friday in Hammond, La.
"Sam Clakley did a good job going right at batters and keep us in the game," UTA head coach Kristie Fox said. "She gave our batters an opportunity to make adjustments and we got the big hit we've been waiting for. The girls did a good job of keeping up their energy for all seven innings."
The Redhawks drew first blood, scoring an unearned run in the second.
While the Mavs recorded a hit in four of the first five innings, it wasn't until the sixth when they were able to get the key hit they've been needing to break through.
With her third hit of the game, Krista Rude started a five-run sixth, leading off the inning with a bunt single. After a hit-by-pitch to Sandra Mendoza, Reagan Wright came up with a two-RBI single to score them both. The Mavs tacked on three more in the inning.
Clakley closed the door in the seventh to preserve the win. Clakley threw her second complete game to move to 2-1. She surrendered one run, unearned, while striking out four.
With the victory the Mavs improved to 2-4 on the year, while the Redhawks fell to 3-1.
With her 3-for-3 performance, Krista Rude extended her hit streak to six games, recording a hit in every game this season. She opened last year with a hit in each of the first 13 games.
Mallory Foster had the other multiple hit game, her first of the season, going 2-for-3 at the plate. Foster and Wright each tallied two RBI. Aileen Garcia and Shelbi Sikes each recorded hits, with Garcia moving her hit streak to five games.
UTA's second game of the day against Southeastern Louisiana was cancelled due to rain in the second inning.
The Mavs are back at it tomorrow with a game against Buffalo at 11 a.m., followed by a match-up with Middle Tennessee State at 1 p.m. The weekend concludes with a single game Sunday against Morehead State at 9 a.m.
