Final Stats | Photo Gallery

UTA vs. South Alabama
Wednesday, 3 p.m. | Watch Live | Live Stats

TROY, Ala. - UTA hit a milestone mark in the opening round of the Sun Belt Championship, run-ruling Coastal Carolina 9-1 to earn the 30th win of the season at the Troy Softball Complex. The Mavs advance to take on South Alabama at 3 p.m. as the double elimination portion of the tournament begins.

"I am really proud of the girls," UTA coach Kristie Fox said. "Sometimes when you come in and play a team that you swept it is easy to take it for granted and they didn't do that at all. They came out and were ready to compete and knew it was a brand new season that started today. I was really impressed with the defense and the really good at-bats they had at the plate."

The Mavericks put up seven runs in the fourth inning to cap its first-ever run-rule since joining the conference in 2014. Whitney Walton led the way offensively with a 2-for-3 effort, scoring a run and driving in a RBI. Laura Curry finished with a game-high three RBI.

"We talked about being aggressive in our zone, and they did a really good job of making the pitchers throw to our zone, and when they did we took advantage of it," Fox said. "I really liked our base running and competitive at-bats with two outs. It was all the top through the bottom stepping up today."

Starting pitcher, and reigning SBC Pitcher of the Week, Sam Clakley earned her 24th win of the year to tie for third in single-season history with Tina Northcutt (1987). Clakley tossed all five innings, striking out one and allowing just four hits.

"It is pretty cool, I've never been a part of something like that really," Clakley said. "I couldn't of done it without my teammates."

After a quiet first, it was Kacey Everett that helped UTA strike first. A single was sandwiched around a pair of walks to bring the UTA catcher to the dish. Everett drove a hard-hit ball into center that fell just short of the diving Coastal Carolina glove to bring home Mallory Foster and Shelbi Sikes.

Leaving bases loaded in the third, UTA took advantage once against in the fourth. Sandra Mendoza doubled for the 34th time of her career - tying for 5th in UTA career history. Mendoza was brought around two batters later with Walton's second hit of the day, a liner through the left side of the infield.

The Mavs then were able to keep the ball rolling as they took advantage of several CCU mishaps. Foster, with the bases loaded for the third time in the game, drove home two on another liner, this time well into left field.

A walk and back-to-back fielder's choice plays kept the offense going and gave UTA its eight-run advantage.

The 30th win of the year is the first 30-win season under UTA coach Kristie Fox, besting 29 from the 2016 season and first for the program since 2011. The Mavs advance into the double elimination portion of the tournament for the first time.

"We are going to have to come out and go all out every pitch and every play and just play our game," Clakley said.