ARLINGTON, Texas – In a high-scoring affair, the UT Arlington softball team (22-23, 10-9 Sun Belt) defeating the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers, holding off a late rally, 8-6 Thursday night at Allan Saxe Field.
 
Randi Phillis (12-12) started in the circle for the Mavs, tossing six innings while allowing six runs off nine hits. She also struck out three batters.  Allie Gardiner picked up her third save of the season, allowing one hit in the final inning.
 
The Mavericks found their stride on offense, finishing with ten hits on the day.  Aileen Garcia led UTA with three hits, while knocking in four runs and crossing the plate once herself. 
 
Coastal scored in the first off a single that found the gap in left center, but the lead would fade quickly as UTA came out firing in the bottom half of the inning.
 
The first three batters reached base for the Mavericks, loading the bases for Garcia, who took advantage of the situation by hitting a single down the right field line to score two runs and give the Mavericks the lead. On the next batter, Laura Curry advanced home coming off a wild pitch.
 
Brittany Wyllie would earn a base on balls, putting runners on the corners for Bri Burchianti, who drove both runs in to make it a 5-1 ballgame.
 
The scoring continued in the second inning.  After the leadoff batter was hit, Coastal showed off their power, hitting a two-run home run to cut the lead to three.
 
Not to be outdone, UTA got back to work. Whitney Walton, Krista Rude and Laura Curry loaded the bases for Garcia for a second time, who came through once more with another two-run single to game their advantage back.  Reagan Wright increased the score one more with an RBI ground out to make it 8-3.
 
Offenses slowed following a hot start to the game, and the pitchers settled it.  Neither team could get back on the board until the fifth inning, when the Chants used an RBI single to cut their deficit to four runs.
 
Following a scoreless sixth inning, Coastal started a rally in the seventh.  The Chants increased their Sun Belt leading home run total by two to begin the frame, cutting the UTA lead to two points.  Allie Gardiner stepped in following the second home run. After giving up an initial double, Gardiner finished off the game to secure the 8-6 win for the Mavericks.
 
UP NEXT
UTA will be back on the diamond tomorrow (Friday, April 19) for game two of the three-game series against Coastal Carolina. The first pitch is set for 5:00 p.m. at Allan Saxe Field.