*SCHEDULE CHANGE* FRIDAY NIGHT'S CONTEST WILL NOW BEGIN AT 4 P.M. DUE TO INCOMING WEATHER IN THE DALLAS-FORT WORTH AREA.

ARLINGTON, Texas – Winners of nine straight, the UT Arlington softball team will host Texas State for a three-game series this Thursday-Saturday at Allan Saxe Field to finish the regular season.  Saturday's contest will serve as Senior Day for Krista Rude, Bri Burchianti, Cy'Andria Newton, Laura Curry and Kayci Moore. The Mavericks currently sit half a game behind Texas State for 3rd place in the Sun Belt.

MATCHUP: UTA (27-23, 15-9 SBC) at Texas State (27-21, 15-8 SBC)
WHEN: May 2-4
WHERE: Arlington, Texas | Allan Saxe Field
THURSDAY (5 p.m.):  WATCH LIVE | LIVE STATS
FRIDAY (4 p.m.): WATCH LIVE | LIVE STATS
SATURDAY (1 p.m.): WATCH LIVE | LIVE STATS

SERIES HISTORY
In the in-state rivalry dating back to 1985, the Mavericks hold the series lead by a slim margin, 62-58. The last time these teams met in Arlington (2017), the Mavericks won two-of-three over the Bobcats. A season ago, the Mavericks opened up the series with a 1-0 upset over the ranked Bobcats in San Marcos. However, Texas State responded by winning the final two game to clinch the series win.

UTA NOTES
• During the Mavericks 6-9 start to Sun Belt play, UTA hit just nine home runs over 15 games.  During the Mavericks nine-game conference winning streak, UTA has smashed seven home runs, including two multi-home run games.
• As a team, UTA has won nine-straight conference games.  That's not only the longest win streak since joining the Sun Belt, but it's also the longest conference winning streak in program history. The previous record was six wins.
• Laura Curry and Whitney Walton continue to hit the ball down the stretch. The two lead the Sun Belt in hits and are both in the top 10 for single-season hits in Mavericks history.  Walton (62) is tied for 9th, while Curry (69) is third on the list.  She needs just two hits to jump into second place and seven hits to break the record.
• UTA has tied their record for most Sun Belt wins in a season. Their record of 15 wins was set in 2017.

KNOW YOUR OPPONENT | TEXAS STATE
• Texas State enters the weekend 27-21 overall and 15-8 in conference play.  They are coming off a series win against Troy and have won five of their last six Sun Belt games.
• The Bobcats have the second most stolen bases in the Sun Belt conference. They are 85-for 95 on stolen base attempts, led by Christiana McDowell's 22 stolen bases.
• Megan King is the go-to pitcher in the circle.  In conference games, she has a 2.24 ERA, the 10th best mark in the Sun Belt.
• Texas State is middle of the pack in both hitting and pitching.  As a team, they have the 5th best batting average at .260 and their pitching staff garners the 4th best ERA at 3.41.

ON DECK
UTA will await their seeding for the Sun Belt tournament which will be played at Texas State in San Marcos on May 8-11.

LAST TIME OUT | Mavericks Outlast Mountaineers in Extra Innings (April 28)
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 Valenciareplaced 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.


BARK IN THE PARK…ALL SEASON LONG
UT Arlington Department of Athletics officials announced that all 2019 home baseball games at Clay Gould Ballpark and softball games at Allan Saxe Field will be dog-friendly, thanks to a generous partnership with upstart Lone Star Friends of Animals to create 'Casey's Corner.'
 
Dogs which are leashed, at least six months old and with the proper vaccinations will be permitted at all UTA baseball and softball games throughout the season.
 
Casey's Corner is a grassy area between the baseball and softball fields, along the 3rd-base line of the baseball stadium. Multiple pet waste stations have been set up, and the space provides fans and dog owners an opportunity to walk and sit with their canine companions while taking in all the Maverick action.

TICKET INFORMATION
Individual and season tickets are now on sale for the 2019 UT Arlington softball season. 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.