Arlington – Behind Kimber Cortemelia's perfect day at the plate the UT Arlington softball team went on to hit a combined five long balls and score 23 runs in its doubleheader, crushing both of its opponents by the run-rule as the Mavericks defeated Stephen F. Austin 11-3 in the first game before walloping Kansas City by the score of 12-3 in the nightcap at Allan Saxe Field on Saturday.
 
The Mavs needed just five innings to complete both games as UTA totaled 24 hits overall, ten of which went for extra bases, including five that went over the outfield wall.
 
Three of those home runs were hit by Cortemelia as she went deep once in the first game against SFA and twice in the nightcap versus Kansas City before finishing the day going a combined 6-6 at the plate. The sophomore stacked up two more doubles and two walks before finishing with seven RBI and six runs scored between both games.
 
So far through three games played in the Maverick Classic, the Lake Jackson, Texas, product has gotten on base 10 out of 11 plate appearances as she is a combined 8-9 at the dish to go along with two walks.
 
One of the other four-baggers was hit in the first game by team captain Brittany Wyllie while the Mavs' last dinger came off the bat of senior shortstop Whitney Walton.
 
Three Mav pitchers saw action in the circle tonight, holding both teams to a total of three runs each over the five innings played throughout each contest. No one pitcher had a dominant outing, but the entire staff limited the damage when they found themselves in trouble, inducing timely ground outs and double-plays with the help of its defense.
 
"The players are doing a tremendous job showing up and playing Maverick softball," said head coach Peejay Brun. "The pitchers are working well as a staff; keeping the opposing teams down and the hitters are being disciplined at the plate."
 
The Mavs had a couple big innings in each game, totaling five runs in four separate innings over the two contests. Not only were they hitting the ball strongly, but they were seeing it well too as the Mavs racked up 13 walks over the two matchups compared to only five strikeouts.
 
Reagan Hukill had herself another big day at the plate, finishing 2-2 with a walk, an RBI and three runs scored and now sits with a .533 batting average on the season. She made her presence felt the most on defense though as she made play after play in left field, including a homerun robbing catch to end the second inning against SFA before making another tough running catch out in left field to double-up the runner at second versus Kansas City.
 
Almost every single UTA player came up with a timely hit in both games to keep their big innings going as nine different Mavs finished with at least one RBI throughout both matchups. Both seniors Avery Grimes and Aileen Garcia tallied an RBI in the two contests, while Madison Miller put the first game against SFA out of reach with a double to left which plated the aforementioned Garcia.
 
But it was Walton and Cortemelia who struck early and often in both games as the two Mavs totaled nine runs batted in. The shortstop finished 3-6 on the day with two walks and a trio of runs batted in and scored, while Cortemelia now has a team-leading nine RBI on the season to go along with a team-best .591 batting average.
 
On Deck
UTA will wrap up the Maverick Classic with its last game slated against Kent State tomorrow beginning at 1 p.m. at Allan Saxe Field. The Golden Eagles have won three of four so far in the tournament and currently stand with the same record as UTA at 6-2.