NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Two solo home runs were the difference makers for the UT Arlington baseball team as they fell to the SIU-Edwardsville Cougars 2-1 in their first game of the SFA Tournament.
 
Despite out hitting the Cougars 7-4, the Mavericks could not cross home plate more than once..  UTA left 11 runners on base, while SIUE had just one. Phillip Childs, Josh Minjarez and Dylan Paul each finished with two hits.  Paul drove in the lone run for the Mavericks – his first RBI of the season.
 
Carlos Tavera (1-1) picked up the start for the Mavericks, lasting six innings and striking out a career-high 11 batters.  He only gave up three hits, but two of them were home runs.  Michael Wong came in for relief in the seventh inning, pitching the final two innings and giving up just one hit.
 
The Mavs jumped out an early lead in the second inning.  Childs singled to left field to give UTA a runner on first.  With two outs, Paul drove a ball to the center field wall to push Childs from first to home and give the Mavs a one run lead.
 
The lead wouldn't last long, however.  With two outs in the bottom of the second, Justin Pierson hit a solo home run to right field to tie the game at one before the Mavericks forced the final out of the inning.
 
Two innings later Pierson put the Cougars on top with his second solo shot of the day, making the score 2-1.
 
UTA had an opportunity to score runs in the 8^th inning. Childs and Minjarez both reached base to begin the inning, but three straight outs ended the Maverick scoring threat.
 
The Mavericks will look to bounce back at the SFA Tournament tomorrow with a doubleheader against SIUE (10 a.m.) and host SFA (3 p.m.).