Final Stats

STATESBORO, Ga. - UT Arlington claimed the Sun Belt series against Georgia Southern by holding off the Eagles in a 10-7 final on Sunday at Eagle Field.

The Mavericks picked up their 10th win in league play as they improved to 22-19 overall and 10-7 in the Sun Belt. UTA opened the game with a five-run first inning on the way to building an 8-0 lead. However, the Eagles would mount a comeback bid to cut the lead down to one before UTA added insurance in the seventh with a pair of runs. Sunday's series clincher ended a season-long eight-game road trip in which UTA went 5-3.

KJ Murphy led the attack with a three-hit performance, scoring a run, while Laura Curry and Melanie Mendoza finished with two hits apiece. Curry scored twice with a RBI, while Mendoza knocked in two.

Randi Phillips picked up her third win of the week as she went 3.2 frames in relief. Phillips was knocked with five runs, all earned, but was able to limit the damage during the Eagles' comeback bid. JoJo Valencia went 3.1 innings to start, giving up four hits and two earned.

HOW IT HAPPENED:
A big first inning put the momentum on the UTA side early with five runs coming across on three hits in the top half of the first. Aileen Garcia got things started with a three-run home run that scored Whitney Walton and Curry. UTA then put together a two-out rally with a bases loaded walk to both Melanie and Sandra Mendoza.

After Georgia Southern stranded two in the second, the Mavs added a run in the third with Melanie tripling to right center. Another two crossed in the fourth as Reagan Wright knocked a RBI single into center, while Walton would come in on an infield out as the shortstop didn't look her back.

The Eagles began to mount their comeback in the fourth with three runs scored, one on a sac fly and another two on a home run into right. Another home run, this time a three-run shot to left brought Georgia Southern within a run. The Eagles had an opportunity to tie the game in the sixth by putting two on with nobody out. However, Phillips picked up a big strikeout and then forced to fly outs.

Much needed insurance came in the top of the seventh with a throwing error bringing in a run and a sac fly from Curry bringing in Mendoza.

Georgia Southern put pressure on UTA in the final half inning by putting two on the base paths. However, a foul to right field ended the threat and stranded two.