March 18, 2018

Final Stats

ARLINGTON, Texas - It was a gem of a start for UTA pitcher Randi Phillips as the freshman threw the sixth no-hitter in UT Arlington softball history to help blank Georgia State 4-0 on Sunday at Allan Saxe Field.

The Mavericks (12-13, 2-3 SBC) earned the series win by taking both games of the day, resuming a delayed Game 2 on Sunday morning and clinching a 3-1 win. Phillips earned the victory in both games, tossing 14 innings in which she only allowed one blemish versus Georgia State, a solo home run in the sixth of Game 2. The no-hitter was the first for the program since Sam Montes achieved the feat in 2015 and first against a conference opponent since 2011.

"It was amazing to watch her pitch," UTA coach Peejay Brun said. "Being a freshman, coach Morgan has been doing a great job with the staff and she has just been a sponge. It is great to see all that hard work pay off. Today she was just on every single pitch and hitting her spots."

For Phillips, the freshman from Jefferson, Texas said that she didn't even notice what was achievable until two outs were recorded in the seventh, a pair of long fly balls to the warning track.

"I just had to push it into the back of my mind," Phillips said. "It was a mix of everything, coach does a great job in helping call the right pitch and does a great job in studying all of the batters. I just trusted in her and went at them."

The no-hitter was clinched with a soft pop out to second base.

The offense clicked at just the right time in both wins, each seeing several UTA hitters pick up multi-hit games. The Mavs broke open a scoreless tie in Game 3 in the fifth to send three across the plate with eyes glancing at the hit line on the scoreboard.

"It was the perfect timing," Brun said. "One of the things that I said in the huddle was that Randi was pitching a great game and it was time to start giving her some help. At that time, the players bought into it. She had already pitched seven innings with just one run, so it was good to see the offense come alive."

The crucial fifth saw Kjirstyn Murphy open up the frame with a double that glanced off the shortstop and into right field. Cy'Andria Newton provided the clutch hit with a well hit ball through the right side to open scoring. The defense then let the Panthers down with three errors coming on four plays to bring in another pair of runs.

Doubles once again helped send a run across in the sixth with Reagan Wright doubling with one out down the right-field line. Murphy did it again, powering one to the wall to bring in Wright.

Murphy joined with Madison Miller to lead with a pair of hits in Game 3 of the series.

In Game 2, the Mavericks built up a quick 3-0 lead in the first. Sandra Mendoza opened the game with a hard-hit ball through the left side, her sister Melanie Mendoza sent one into left and Whitney Walton's double down the line plated both. Wright would clean things up with a single on two outs to score Walton.

Play would be delayed with two down in the top of the fifth with lightning in the area. The team's resumed on Sunday morning at 11 a.m. with a ground out ending the threat, stranding a runner at second.

Georgia State picked up its only run on a solo shot in the sixth coming on one out.

The Mavs head on the road for their next six games beginning with a doubleheader against SEC foe Arkansas on Tuesday beginning at 12 p.m. UTA will be at Coastal Carolina for a three-game SBC series beginning on Saturday, and travel to Abilene Christian in nonconference next Tuesday.

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