FORT COLLINS, Colo. – The UT Arlington softball team scored nine runs in the final three innings to overcome a 6-0 deficit against Liberty, defeating the Flames 9-8 to advance to the NISC semifinals where they will face 2018 Champion Loyola Marymount. This is the first win for Mavericks in the NISC Championship Round.
 
"We weren't playing Maverick softball at the beginning," said Head Coach Peejay Brun. "When we got back to playing with heart, we got back to our game."
 
Randi Phillips started in the circle for the Mavericks, but lasted just two innings after giving up five runs on five hits.  Laura Henriksen (7-1) came in for relief in the third inning, pitching four innings, allowing three runs off four hits. Allie Gardiner recorded her seventh save of the season, entering in the seventh inning and allowing no runs off no hits.
 
The Mavericks finished with 15 hits on the day, led by Reagan Wright and Avery Grimes both going 3-for-4 on the day.  Laura Curry, KJ Murphy and Melanie Mendoza each finished with multi-hit days as well. Whitney Walton led the Mavericks with three RBI and score twice herself. The nine runs scored by the Mavericks is the most scored against Liberty all season.
 
For just the 11^th time this season, the Mavericks were unable to get a baserunner in the first inning.  The Flames, however, were able to score two runs off their first two batters after Amber Bishop hit a two-run home run over the 14-foot fence in left field to take the early lead.
 
The Flames used another home run in the bottom of the second to extend their lead. Two singles gave Liberty two base runners before Autumn Bishop hit a three-run shot over the centerfield wall to make it a 5-0 game.
 
The third inning saw one run scored by the Flames.  The leadoff batter was walked, and reached third from a groundout and wild pitch.  Alexis Erich hit a groundball just out of the reach of a diving Whitney Walton to push the Liberty lead to six.
 
The Mavs threatened in the top of the fourth.  Aileen Garcia reached on an error before Reagan Wright singled to put runners at first and second.  A ground ball to third base ended the threat, however, as the force out at third was put into play.
 
UTA got on the board in the fifth inning using a two-out rally.  Avery Grimes hit a line drive to left field, advancing to second with a groundout by Melanie Mendoza.  Whitney Walton followed with a hard-hit ball to third base to force an error, allowing Grimes to score from second to make the score 6-1. The run was the first run scored against the Flames in over 27 innings.
 
Shelbi Court walked, while Laura Curry beat out a throw to first with a bunt to load the bases.  Aileen Garcia connected on a line drive to left center, scoring Walton and Court to cut the Maverick deficit to three runs.
 
Another two-out rally in the sixth inning brought the Mavs closer to the Flames.  Avery Grimes reached on a fielder's choice with two outs.  A double by Mendoza pushed Grimes to third, but an errant throw allowed Grimes to score the fourth run of the game.
 
Walton walked as the next batter, before Shelbi Court drilled a ball into the ground, forcing a high bounce as Mendoza went from second to home to make the game 6-5. With the next at-bat, Curry hit a ball on the left field line to tie the game, scoring Walton from second base.
 
Autumn Bishop came through again for the Flames in the bottom of the sixth, connecting on her second home run of the day to put Liberty back on top 8-6.
 
Still needing a rally, the Mavericks got back to work in the seventh inning. Singles by Reagan Wright and KJ Murphy put runners on the corners before Grimes hit an RBI single to cut the lead to one run. Whitney Walton come in two batters later and hit a ball to right field to drive in two runs and take their first lead of the game, 9-8.
 
"This team believes they can overcome anything, no matter what the odds are," Brun said. "It's something they've built and they take pride in."
 
UP NEXT
The Mavericks will play defending NISC Champions Loyola Marymount tomorrow (Saturday, May 25) at 2 p.m. central in the semifinals.