Feb. 24, 2017 Box Score | Notes | Photo Gallery 
By Cassie Logan | UTAMavs.com
ARLINGTON, Texas - In her first-ever game at Allan Saxe Field, freshman Aileen Garcia debuted a pair of deep home runs in Game 1 of the Mavericks' stint in the UTA Invitational Friday.
UTA (6-5) went on to top Nicholls (11-4) 4-0 that afternoon before falling 15-5 in the nightcap against Wichita State (6-2). The Mavs pushed their win streak to five games, but it was short-lived following the six-inning loss. The squad combined for nine runs on 14 hits on the day.
Krista Rude continues to swing a hot bat and leads the UTA offense with base knocks in 10-straight games, the only Mav to do so, following a 3-for-3, one-RBI show in the first game. The Mavs collected four runs on 10 hits against Nicholls. Shelbi Sikes had the other multi-hit performance at 2-for-3.
Garcia put UTA on the board in the bottom of the second with her first blast of the day, and an RBI-single from Laura Curry upped the lead to two. The Mavs tacked on another pair of runs in the sixth to sit comfortably the rest of the way.
Sam Clakley earned the win in Game 1 to improve to 5-1 on the season. Her complete game allowed six hits, five strikeouts and a walk. Nicholls' Megan Landry dropped to 6-2.
Catcher Reagan Wright hit her second homer of the year, a two-run blast in the bottom of the fifth of Game 2, but it only had so much impact as Wichita State's nine and five-run frames paved way for a 15-5 victory.
Freshman Whitney Walton responded in the bottom half of the fourth frame with her first-career homer to chip away at the lead 10-3. Sandra Mendoza's single plated the Mavs' first pair of runs in the second inning. The knock handed UTA the lead after the Shockers scored on an RBI-groundout in the first.
Mendoza went 1-for-2 at the plate with her two RBI. Wright was 1-for-3 with two RBI and a run.
Mariah Denson (0-4) recieved the loss in her two innings, giving up nine runs, six earned, on six hits, two punchout and two walks. Wichita State's Katie Malone picked up her second win of the day and improved to 5-2. She held UTA to three runs on four hits and a trio of strikeouts.
The Mavericks are back in action with the UTA Invitational at Allan Saxe Field Saturday against UMKC at 12:30 p.m. and later host Nicholls at 5:30 p.m.
