April 13, 2017
Box Score | Notes
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Kadon Simmons fired eight three-hit innings and Quintin Rohrbaugh collected three hits to lead UTA to a 2-0 win over Little Rock in the series opener of a three-game series on Thursday night at Clay Gould Ballpark.
Simmons fired a gem in his ninth start to pace the Mavs to their first shutout win of the year, with the two starters combining to start 45 of 56 hitters they faced with first-pitch strikes in a one hour and 58-minute game. UTA has now won four consecutive conference games after a sweep at Appalachian State last weekend.
UTA (18-16, 9-4 Sun Belt) remained in first place in the Western Division with the win and sits a half game shy of South Alabama (9-3) for the overall lead, with the Jaguars tied with Coastal Carolina in the seventh inning.
ON THE MOUND
A native of Cut & Shoot, Texas Simmons (5-2) worked eighth shutout innings, allowing only three hits and no walks, fanning five over 92 pitches. The win improved Simmons to 14-6 in his career, gives him six quality starts on the year and 14 in his career. Simmons has worked into at least the seventh inning in 18 of his 24 career starts and in 13 of his last 16 starts. He started 21 of the 27 hitters he faced with a first-pitch strike.
The Mavs turned to junior Daniel James to open the ninth inning, trying to lock down a 2-0 lead. James got three quick outs on eight pitches with a strikeout to earn his Sun Belt leading eighth save of the year.
Little Rock (13-21, 5-8 Sun Belt) starter Cory Malcom (2-3) turned in a strong start, working 7.1 innings, allowing nine hits and two runs, not issuing a walk and striking out six. Malcom started 24 of the 29 hitters he faced with a first-pitch strike. Dylan Slayton took over for Malcom in the eighth, getting two outs.
LEADING THE MAVS
In a series-opening pitching duel, UTA collected nine hits in the game, including a 3-for-3 game from Rohrbaugh. Noah Vaughan drove in UTA's other run with a hit, with Brady Cox, Aaron Funk and Easton Johnson each adding knocks. Will Olson was 2-for-4 with a run.
HOW THEY SCORED
UTA opened the scoring in the bottom of the sixth inning, getting a leadoff single from Brady Cox, who took second on a deep fly out. Olson then singled into shallow centerfield, with the throw nailing Cox at the plate for the second out. Rohrbaugh then lined a two-out, RBI triple off the wall in rightfield, scoring Olson from first base. Vaughan then smacked a RBI single of the sliding glove of the first baseman, allowing Rohrbaugh to score.
NEXT
The series will resume on Friday at 6:30 p.m. CT at Clay Gould Ballpark. The Mavs will turn to junior righty Trae Patterson (3-2, 2.73 ERA) vs. Little Rock junior right-hander Ryan Lemoine (1-3, 8.62 ERA). The game will be broadcast live on UTAMavs.com, with the Voice of UTA Baseball, Josh Sours, calling the action.
