April 15, 2017
Box Score | Notes
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Austin Gardner fired four two-hit relief innings to earn his first win of the year, leading UTA to a 10-5 win over Little Rock in the series rubber match, on a perfect Saturday afternoon at Clay Gould Ballpark.
UTA (19-17, 10-5 Sun Belt) now sits a half game shy of Louisiana (10-4-1) and Coastal Carolina (10-4-1) in the Sun Belt Conference Western Division and overall league lead. The Mavs have won four of their first five conference tests for the first time since 2011. UTA will travel to face ULM (5-10) next weekend.
The teams traded blows early in the first inning, with Little Rock plating two and UTA getting a four-run frame. The Mavs extended their lead to 7-2 in the fourth but Little Rock rallied to get within two and put the tying run at the plate in the fifth. UTA's three-run sixth inning helped secure the win and push the Mavs to the 10-5 result, riding Gardner's arm to the final out.
ON THE MOUND
UTA starter Jakob Hernandez worked 4.1 inning, allowing nine hits and five runs, walking two and striking out three. With two runners on and the tying run in the on-deck circle in the fifth inning, the Mavs turned to Adam Meyer in relief.
A native of Fort Worth, Texas, Meyer got a pair of outs before walking the first two hitters in the sixth inning. Gardner (1-1) came on to replace Meyer. Gardner struck out the side to end the sixth inning and worked a season-high four innings, allowing only two hits and striking out a career-best six. It marked the longest relief outing of Gardner's career.
Little Rock (14-22, 6-9 Sun Belt) starter Chandler Fidel (2-4) worked 3.1 innings, allowing eight hits and six runs, striking out five. The Trojans also used Preston Oberling, Matt McDowell, Justin Garcia, Jacob Rateliff, McKinley Moore, Cole Townsend and Joe Corbett in relief.
LEADING THE MAVS
UTA scored 10 runs on 10 hits and eight walks in the game, with eight position starters collecting hits and each starter getting at least a run or hit in the win. Phil Berthiaume and Brady Cox each had two hits and a walk, with Berthiaume driving in two runs. Quintin Rohrbaugh and Will Olson each drove in a pair, with RJ Williams scoring twice and painting a double down the line to answer the two-run first inning for Little Rock. Omar Salinas had a hit, RBI and two runs, with Christian Hollie and Noah Vaughan each driving in runs and owning hits. Easton Johnson scored a run.
HOW THEY SCORED
Hunter Owens started the rally for the Trojans in the first inning, getting a one-out single up the middle, taking second on Dalton Thomas' 3-2 walk. After a strikeout, Cameron Knight and Riley Pittman each ripped RBI singles.
UTA answered in the bottom of the first, getting a leadoff double from Williams and a two-strike knock from Cox through the right side of the infield. Salinas dropped a single into shallow leftfield to score Williams from second and after the second out, Olson drew a walk to load the bases. Vaughan then tied the game with an infield single in the hole on the left side and Berthiaume gave the Mavs a 4-2 lead with a two-run single up the middle.
The Mavs chased Fidel in the fourth inning, getting into the Little Rock bullpen. Berthiaume led off with an infield single and Johnson reached first after his sacrifice bunt attempt was misplayed. Williams then loaded the bases with a walk and Cox dropped a single into shallow rightfield to score Berthiaume. Rohrbaugh scored a pair to give the Mavs a 7-2 lead with a two-run single to leftfield.
In the top of the fifth inning, Little Rock got a leadoff single from Owens and a single from Thomas down the rightfield line. Nik Gifford then scored Owens with an RBI fielder's choice. Knight chased Hernandez from the game with a double into the gap and Pittman scored two with an RBI single to leftfield.
UTA rallied in the bottom of the sixth inning, getting three straight walks, off three different relievers, to open the frame. Olson then greeted the fourth pitcher of the inning with a two-run single and Hollie hung a sacrifice fly to score Rohrbaugh for a 10-5 UTA lead.
NEXT
The Mavs will return to action on Tuesday, hosting Texas A&M at 6:30 p.m. at Clay Gould Ballpark.
