Final Stats

By Brooke Ortale | UTAMavs.com

ARLINGTON, Texas - UTA softball made quick work of Houston Baptist on Wednesday, defeating the Huskies 9-1 in five innings.

"The girls came out with a lot of energy," UTA coach Kristie Fox said. "Sometimes with so much going on on campus, people can come out flat, but they did a really good job of creating the atmosphere we needed to be successful.

Coming into the game with one of the highest batting averages in the Sun Belt (.285), the Mavericks wasted no time showing their offensive prowess, scoring three runs in the first.

After batting around in the first, the Mavericks nearly did the same thing in the second, plating four runs on four hits, with eight Mavericks stepping to the plate in the inning.

Leading the Huskies 7-1 in the fourth, the Mavericks needed one run to put the run-rule in affect and Mallory Foster provided that and more. Foster ripped a 1-1 pitch over the right field wall, putting the Mavericks up 9-1.

Mariah Denson closed the door on the Huskies on the fifth, entering in relief of starter Sam Clakley.

Clakley was brilliant in the circle for UTA, allowing one unearned run on three hits, striking out three.

"She did a good job," Fox said. "She came out, threw strikes and competed. She did what she normally does."

Foster was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate, driving in two, while scoring one. Sandra Mendoza and Aileen Garcia each had multiple-hit games, each going 2-for-3.

Garcia recorded a team-high three RBI, while Laura Curry and Foster each drove in two.

Mendoza's double in the third moved her one shy of tying Meagan Michelle (12-15) for sixth in UTA career doubles with 32. She's also two extra-base hits away from breaking into UTA's top-10 in career extra-base hits with 40.

With the win, the Mavericks improved to 16-13, while Clakley moved to 12-7. Houston Baptist fell to 7-13 and starter Emily Mueller dropped to 3-9.

The Mavericks continue their five-game homestand, hosting Georgia Southern for a three-game SBC series March 25-26.