BOONE, N.C. – Aileen Garcia hit a ninth inning grand slam to lift the UT Arlington softball team over Appalachian State on Sunday, 9-7, completing the three-game sweep. This is the third straight sweep against conference foes, the longest such stretch in Maverick history.
Three pitchers combined in the nine-inning effort.
Randi Phillips started in the circle, tossing two innings before
JoJo Valencia replaced her in the third. After allowing just one run in 4.2 IP,
Allie Gardiner came in to finish the game for the Mavericks.
UTA finished with 12 hits on the day, led by
Laura Curry's 3-for-3 effort.
Whitney Walton crossed the plate three times and Garcia knocked in five runs for the Mavericks.
Following a scoreless first inning for both teams,
Bri Burchianti got things going, smashing a two-run home run to center field to put the Mavs on top.
The Mountaineers answered right back in the bottom of the second. A two-run homer tied the game, before the next batter hit a solo home run to take a 3-2 lead.
Appalachian State continued their home run hitting in the third inning, using another solo home run to push their lead to two runs.
A mistaken riddled fifth inning by the Mountaineers allowed the Mavericks back into the game.
Whitney Walton was the first to score, advancing home from a wild pitch.
Aileen Garcia reached base on a misplayed ball by the shortstop allowing
Krista Rude to advance home, tying the game at four.
With the game still tied at four in the seventh inning,
Laura Curry broke the tie with an RBI single up the middle to give the Mavericks the 5-4 lead.
The lead didn't last long however, as the Mountaineers connected on a solo home run in the bottom half of the inning to force extra innings, tying the game at five.
After neither team could score in the eight, the Mavericks loaded the bases with one out in the ninth inning.
Aileen Garcia promptly stepped up to the plate following a pitching changed and emptied the bases with a grand slam to give the Mavs a 9-5 lead.
Appalachian State did their best to match in the bottom of the ninth, hitting a two-run home run to cut the Maverick lead to two runs. It wouldn't be enough, however, as Gardiner secured the final two outs to end the game, 9-7.
UP NEXT
UTA will return to Allan Saxe Field this Thursday for the first of three games against Texas State. The game is slated to begin at 5 p.m.
