ARLINGTON, Texas – A wild night ensued at Allan Saxe Field as the UT Arlington softball field completed a six-run seventh inning to force extra innings, before winning in the ninth with a Bri Burchianti walk-off hit, 8-7. The Mavericks are now 19-22 overall and 7-9 in the Sun Belt.
 
The teams combined for 15 runs, coming off 24 hits and seven errors. Whitney Walton, Aileen Garcia, KJ Murphy and Shelbi Court each had multi-hit performances in the win.
 
ULM opened up the game with a first-inning solo home run to take the initial lead. The Warhawks extended their lead in the third inning, using three straight singles to score one run, before a throwing error made it a 4-0 ball game, bringing home two more runs.
 
UTA returned the favor in the bottom frame of the third, with Whitney Walton scoring off an error coming from a Laura Curry hit to cut the deficit to three runs.
 
The top of the fifth began with an error before two singles loaded the bases for the Warhawks. A single to right center pushed the score to 6-1 before ULM used a sacrifice fly to score what would be their final run of the game.
 
After failing to score any runs in the fifth or sixth innings, the Mavericks brought out their rally cheese. Trailing six runs and down to their final three outs, UTA would tie the game.  Walton led off the inning with a double, before Bri Burchianti reached on an error. On the next pitch, Burchianti stole second, but an errant throw allowed Walton to score and Burchianti to advance to third, making it a 7-2 ball game.
 
A third straight error by ULM pushed the Warhawk lead to just four runs as Burchianti scored.  With no outs, Aileen Garcia and Reagan Wright reached base to put runners at first and second. Following a popup, Kayci Moore walked to load the bases for Shelbi Court, who unloaded on a pitch to the left field wall, scoring two runs and making it a one-run ball game. Avery Grimes hit a ground ball to second that appeared to be in play for a double-play to end the game, but Grimes beat the throw and scored Moore to tie the game at seven, forcing extra innings.
 
Only one base runner was allowed in the eight, but ULM threatened in the top of the ninth with runners on second and third with one out.  Allie Gardiner escaped the inning, forcing a pop-up and ground out.
 
KJ Murphy, Shelbi Court and Whitney Walton each reached base to load the bases in the bottom of the ninth.  After intentionally walking Walton, the Warhawks chose to pitch to Burchianti, who made them pay by taking a first-pitch swing and driving it down the right field line to drive in the game-winning run as the Mavericks completed the 8-7 come from behind victory.
 
UP NEXT
The Mavericks will play game two of the three-game series tomorrow at 1 p.m. at Allan Saxe Field against ULM.