March 12, 2017

Final Stats

By Cassie Logan | UTAMavs.com

ARLINGTON, Texas -- The Sun Belt series finale between UTA softball and ULM finally ended in dramatic fashion on Sunday as a squeeze bunt in the bottom of the 15th inning claimed a 2-1 victory for the Mavericks.

Pinch hitter Aileen Garcia was called on to end the drought and did so with one out, following a double and single from Kacey Everett and Sandra Mendoza, respectively in the inning. UTA (14-10, 2-1 SBC) clinched the conference-opening series after splitting a doubleheader with ULM (14-9, 1-2) on Saturday.

"I was out there warming up for the last five innings of the game," Garcia said. "I knew they were going to put me in sometime. I was just hoping to stay ready every pitch. I didn't think it would be a bunt, but I had to do anything to help the team."

The marathon was the longest game for UTA since 1985, also a 15-frame battle. The all-time record stands at 25. Sam Clakley (10-5) was a workhorse in the circle and allowed a run on nine hits, six strikeouts and a pair of walks in her record-setting performance. The 15 innings tied the Sun Belt record for most in a single game.

"The whole entire time it just came down to mental toughness," Sam Clakley said. "I kept telling myself after every batter, 'Just beat this one, just throw strikes'. I've got my defense to back me up and they did. It was just a lot of mental toughness today."

The Mavericks rounded up 13 hits on the day to the Warhawks' nine. Laura Curry and Kacey Everett produced the most at the dish for UTA, swinging 3-for-7 clips, both with a run. Both runs, however, were handled by pinch hitters in Garcia and Bri Burchianti.

UTA evened it up at 1 in the bottom of the second inning as a leadoff double for Curry came home on Burchianti's RBI groundout.

The Warhawks were first to score in the opening frame after three consecutive singles plated their only run, though Clakely worked out of a bases loaded jam to prevent any more damage.

ULM advanced runners in scoring position in just three of the game's eight extra innings. Clakley seemed to only grow stronger as time passed, retiring each of the Warhawks' final six batters.

The Mavericks had multiple opportunities, including runners on third in the 12thand 14th frames. UTA's chances to score were highest in the 12thwith the bases loaded, but a strikeout would cut the rally. Curry tripled and Mallory Foster walked in the 14th, but one final attempt in the following inning would seal the win.

UTA returns to Allan Saxe Field on Wednesday for a midweek against SFA at 6 p.m.