Final Stats

By Cassie Logan | UTAMavs.com

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Sam Clakley fanned a career-high 10 batters, and Sam Montes and Mariah Denson tossed a combined shutout to complete a SBC doubleheader sweep of Coastal Carolina Saturday at Allan Saxe Field.

UTA secured its fourth SBC series victory to improve to 24-20 and 10-10 in league play. Sun Belt newcomer Coastal Carolina moved to 29-18 and 7-12 on its first trip to Arlington. The Mavericks claimed the first game 4-3 and held onto a 2-0 shutout to cap the day.

"The pitching staff did a good job of competing," UTA coach Kristie Fox said. "They were in some tough situations that they were able to battle their way out and the team played really good defense behind them."

A pitching duel opened the day's action in Game 1 through three scoreless innings until Coastal took the initiative to make some offensive noise. The Chanticleers scored a run on an RBI-double in the top half of the fourth, motivating the Mavericks to swing away.

A two-run blast for Shelbi Sikes highlighted a three-run rally for UTA in the fourth frame. Laura Curry reached on a fielding error and plated an earlier walk for the team's first run. Sikes' pair of RBI brought her two away from tying Meagan Michele for ninth all-time with 86.

Both teams each added a run to their totals in the sixth, including a solo homer for Coastal's Adriana Toro. Curry's fielder's choice padded UTA's lead 4-2. The Chanticleers would add pressure in the final inning with an RBI-single to close the deficit, but Clakley would fan her 10th batter in the following at-bat.

Clakley recorded her 18th complete game, retiring 10 to improve to 18-11. The sophomore allowed three earned runs on eight hits and a walk in the performance.

Runs seemed to come at a premium in Game 2 as the Mavericks scored in the first and sixth innings, while a collective effort from Sam Montes and Mariah Denson in the circle held off Coastal.

Montes (4-2) was responsible for five hits, a walk and four punchouts in her win. Denson registered her third save of the year with three strikeouts in two innings.

Mendoza's leadoff double in the first inning turned into a 1-0 lead for UTA as Whitney Walton would reach on a squeeze bunt to advance her home. Another run in the sixth inning stemmed from an RBI-single by Kacey Everett would pad the lead and give Denson room to breathe in the seventh.

Everett went 2-for-3 in the second of the two-game slate. Mendoza and Wright were each 1-for-3 with a run.

Mendoza moved into a share for ninth with Michele with 70 career walks. Mendoza's double in the first tied her for fifth all-time with 33 doubles.

UTA looks for the overall sweep in the series finale noon Sunday at Allan Saxe Field.