SAN MARCOS, Texas – With over 36 hours of rest between tournament games, the UT Arlington softball team (30-25) used a complete team effort to run-rule the Sun Belt Championship host Texas State 8-0 to eliminate the Bobcats.  With the win, the Mavericks advance to play #8 ULM at 3 p.m. at the Bobcat Softball Stadium today (Friday, May 10).
 
The Maverick batters were patient and waited for their pitch all game, and it showed.  The top three batters went a combined 8-for-9 at the plate and the entire team batted .500, going 12-for-24 at the plate.
 
"Everybody came out and contributed one way or another," said Head Coach Peejay Brun "This was the perfect example of a team win."
 
While the bats were hot, the pitchers kept the Bobcat threat to a minimum. Randi Phillips (14-12) picked up the start in the circle, tossing 3.1 shutout innings while allowing just four hits and walking one batter. Allie Gardiner replaced Phillips in the fourth, pitching the remaining 2.2 innings, allowing just two hits and no runs.
 
Following a three-up, three-down inning by Phillips, the Mavericks got to work.  Walton and Rude both reached base, advancing to second and third with a sac bunt by Curry before Garcia hit a ground ball to second to score Walton.
 
In the top of the second, the Bobcats loaded the bases, but Phillips forced a ground ball to turn a double play and end the inning.
 
Three straight singles to begin the third inning for the Mavs loaded the bases before a wild pitch advanced all runners and allowed Mendoza to score.  A blooper by Curry with the next at-bat scored Walton to make the score 3-0.
 
Following Curry, Garcia hit a ball down the right field line to score one, while another scored on a throwing error by the right fielder to push the Maverick lead to five runs. Advancing to third on the error, Garcia was brought home two batters later with a sac fly coming off the bat of Murphy to make it 6-0.
 
Scoring halted until the fifth inning. With two outs, Murphy went from first to home on a Wyllie single to right field to push the lead to seven.
 
In the next inning, the top of the lineup that had been so lethal came through again, as all three batters reached bases to load the bases for pinch-hitter Court.  Court promptly ended the game with a line drive to left center to bring home the game ending run as the Mavericks won 8-0.
 
The Mavericks will play at 3 p.m. today against the 8-seed Louisiana-Monroe. The game will be televised on ESPN+.