ARLINGTON, Texas – The UT Arlington softball team (27-24, 15-10 Sun Belt) fell in the seventh inning against Texas State after the Bobcats scored four to win the game 5-2. The Mavericks still have a chance to jump into third place in the conference by winning the final two games of the series against Texas State.
Randi Phillips picked up the start, and tossed a six innings in the loss. Heading into the seventh, she had allowed just one run off four hits.
Allie Gardiner (5-6) replaced Phillips in the seventh inning, allowing two runs off one hit, while walking two batters.
The Mavericks finished with eight hits on the day, led by
Laura Curry and
Aileen Garcia, both of whom finished with two hits on the day.
Melanie Mendoza and Garcia finished with one RBI each.
Following a three-up, three-down inning for the Phillips to begin the game, the Mavericks offense got things rolling in the first. Curry began a two-out rally, singling up the gut of the defense before Garcia hit a ball to left field to bring Curry home.
Phillips kept the Bobcats off the board until the fourth inning. A leadoff single would eventually find their way home with a two-out double to left field to tie the game at one.
The tie didn't last long however, as Mendoza has seemingly found her power swing, hitting a solo home run to break the tie and put the Mavericks back on top. After homering just once in her first 91 games played, Mendoza has sent the ball over the fence twice in the past ten games.
With Phillips in control, it appeared the Mavericks were on their way to a game one victory, but the Bobcats had other plans. A leadoff homer to begin the seventh tied the game at two, before the next batter singled up the middle to give the Bobcats the go-ahead run on base.
Back-to-back walks loaded the bases for Texas State. A pinch hitter stepped up to the plate and hit a ball over Mendoza's head in left field, hitting the wall and allowing three more runs to score as the Bobcats took a 5-2 lead.
Krista Rude was able to lead off the bottom of the seventh with a single, but no other Mav could get on base, ending the game.
UTA will be back in action tomorrow night at Allan Saxe Field for game two of the three-game series against the Bobcats. The first pitch is slated to begin at 5 p.m.
