ARLINGTON – The UT Arlington softball team split a pair of games on day two of the Maverick Invitational, run-ruling the Prairie View A&M Panthers in the first game 10-0 before falling to Wichita State 3-1 to end the evening.
 
"We did a great job swinging the bat," Head Coach Peejay Brun said. "We came away with 15 hits and you can't complain about that. Outside of one hit by Wichita State, our defense did a great job at making plays."
 
UTA VS PRAIRIE VIEW RECAP
 
The Mavs (7-6) got things going early in the rematch of yesterday's 2-1 win over the Panthers.  Aileen Garcia drove home the first run of the game with an RBI single in the top of the first.
 
After two blank innings by both squads, UTA found their rhythm. After Brittany Wyllie and Garcia reached base safely in the top of the fourth, Melanie Mendoza drove them in with a single to right center, that reached its way to the warning track.
 
The Mavs more than doubled their score an inning later, exploding for four runs.  UTA loaded the bases to start the inning, allowing for a sacrifice fly by Garcia before Reagan Wright drove in two more runs with a double to left field.  Wyllie singled up the middle to push Wright across the plate and make the score 7-0.
 
The onslaught continued an inning later, once again loading the bases.  Garcia walked to give the Mavs the run-rule requirement before Wyllie brought home the final two runs of the game with a single to right field, making it 10-0.
 
JoJo Valencia (3-0) picked up the win, pitching a masterpiece in the process. In five frames, she allowed just two hits, no walks, no runs and struck out three Panthers.  Laura Henriksen pitched the final inning.
 
Garcia and Wyllie led the Mavs offense, both finishing with three RBI in the game, while Wright and Mendoza came away with two.
 
UTA VS WICHITA STATE RECAP
 
The second game of the evening saw one inning be the difference maker.  The Shockers put up all three of their runs in the top of the first, coming off the bat of Madison Perrigan, who's two-out three-run home run was the deciding factor.
 
In the bottom of the second, the Mavs got one run back with an RBI single to left field by Reagan Wright.  A Shelbi Court walk, followed by a sacrifice bunt by Brittany Wyllie put runners at second and third, but a strikeout ended the inning to eliminate the threat.
 
UTA had another shot to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh.  Court led off the inning with a single to right field, but back-to-back fielder's choices kept a runner at first.  A walk pushed the tying run on base, but the runs would be stranded with a ground out back to the pitcher to end the game.
 
Randi Phillips (4-3) got the loss in the game.  After the three-run first inning, she settled in, allowing just five hits and no walk, while striking out three batters.
 
NEXT UP
UTA will finish the Maverick Invitational tomorrow afternoon at 2 pm against Abilene Christian at Allan Saxe Field.
 
TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets for the Maverick Invitational are now available and can be purchased for individual days. All seating is general admission, and tickets can be secured by logging on to UTATickets.com.

SEASON TICKET INFORMATION
Season tickets are now on sale for the 2019 UT Arlington softball season, beginning at just $50. All seating is general admission, and tickets can be secured by logging on to UTATickets.com.

FOLLOW THE MAVS
For the latest news on UTA Softball log on to UTAMavs.com or stay connected to the Mavs on social media. Follow the Mavericks on Twitter @UTASoftball.