April 30, 2017
Box Score | Notes
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Brady Cox scored three runs and Jakob Hernandez worked his seventh quality start of the year, leading UTA to a sweep-clinching 9-3 win - UTA's eighth straight victory - over No. 20 Louisiana on a chilly Sunday afternoon at Clay Gould Ballpark.
In a battle of the top two teams in the Sun Belt Conference standings entering the weekend, UTA (26-17, 16-5 Sun Belt) posted three dominating wins to earn the first sweep over the Ragin' Cajuns in program history. The sweep moves the Mavs into sole possession of first place in the standings for the first time in 2017.
Louisiana (27-17-1, 13-7-1 Sun Belt) suffered its first three-game sweep in four seasons, dating back to 2013. The Mavs won the opener, 5-4 on Friday and after Saturday's game was postponed to a Sunday doubleheader, the Mavs swept the Cajuns with a 10-2 win in the middle game and a 9-3 sweep clincher in the nightcap.
The red-hot Mavs have now won eight consecutive games, have won 14 of their last 17 games and have won six of their first seven weekend tests in conference play. UTA also equaled the program record with five wins over top-25 teams, also done in 2009. Over the course of its winning streak - which includes four wins over top-25 foes - UTA has hit .295, scoring 63 runs in eight games, while sporting a 3.12 team ERA.
ON THE MOUND
A native of Parker, Colo., Hernandez (5-0) tossed 6.1 innings, allowing five hits and three runs, walking four and striking out eight. It marked his seventh quality start of the year.
With one out in the seventh inning and a runner on, lefty Adam Meyer came on in relief of Hernandez, with Meyer getting two outs to escape the jam. Dylan Schneider opened the eighth on the mound, working around two walks with a strikeout.
UTA's Daniel James worked the ninth inning to secure the series sweep.
LA starter Hogan Harris (3-1) worked 4.2 innings, allowing four hits and six runs - two earned - walking two and striking out five. LA then turned to Wyatt Marks - ranked as the nation's No. 1 reliever this week by D1baseball - in the fifth. Marks allowed two runners to score on wild pitches in the inning but escaped the jam with UTA leading 6-0.
Marks finished working one inning, allowing two unearned runs on a hit and five walks, fanning one. Closer Dylan Moore took over in the sixth inning and fired 2.1 shutout innings, allowing just a hit and striking out two.
LEADING THE MAVS
Cox had three runs scored to lead the Mavs at the plate, with UTA also getting a 2-for-2 game from RJ Williams, with UTA's shortstop laying down three sacrifice bunts in the win. Zac Cook added three runs scored and a walk at the top of the order, with Noah Vaughan also drawing two walks. UTA got hits from Will Olson and Aaron Funk, with Colton Turner driving in a run and drawing a walk.
HOW THEY SCORED
UTA plated two runs on two hits and a walk in the bottom of the first inning to take a 2-0 lead. Cook led off with a walk, taking second on a passed ball and moving to third on a sac bunt. Cox then scored Cook with a double into the gap, with Olson's single plating Cox for a two-run lead.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, UTA added to its lead and chased the Cajuns starter. Cook started UTA's two-out rally with a single up the middle, stealing second base on the next pitch as the LA catcher struggled during the inning in throwing the ball back to the mound, necessitating a substitution. Williams then singled through the left side, with the shortstop covering second base on what he believed to be a pickoff attempt, and Williams smoking the ball right where he was standings. Cox then reached on an error and Olson loaded the bases with a walk. Rohrbaugh was plunked by a 3-2 pitch to score a run and a pair of wild pitches from Marks scored Cox and Olson for a 6-2 lead.
The Cajuns rallied in the top of the sixth inning, loading the bases with two outs after a pair of singles and a walk. Alex Pinero then ripped a three-run triple into the right-centerfield gap, cutting the UTA lead to 6-3.
UTA got the three runs back in the bottom of the sixth. Funk led off with a bunt single with a walk from Cook and an error on a sac bunt attempt from Williams loaded the bases. After LA got the lead runner for the first out, Rohrbaugh and Vaughan each drew walks to force in runs. Turner then chopped a grounder that slide under the glove of the second baseman, allowing Cox to score from third for a six-run lead.
NEXT
UTA hits the road for a four-game road swing, starting on Tuesday at Texas, with first pitch slated for 6:30 p.m. CT and the game broadcast live on the Longhorn Network.
