After splitting a pair of games against Texas A&M on its season-opening day Friday, the UT Arlington softball team (2-2) split another pair of games Saturday by coming back from a 4-0 deficit against the Aggies to rally late and win in extras, 5-4, before falling to Abilene Christian, 4-2.
 
The Mavs started off day two of the Aggie Classic trailing early after giving up four runs to Texas A&M in the first inning, but after tacking on a run in the fourth, UTA scored three more times in the sixth and tied the game back up courtesy of an Avery Grimes 2 RBI line-drive double to right center. The second baseman would go on to plate the game-winning run in the top of the eighth inning with another double and her third hit of the game. She finished the day with four RBI after going 3-4 at the plate.
 
KJ Murphy came around to score three times against the Aggies after getting on-base with a single, a hit-by-pitch and starting off the eighth inning in extras on second base. Freshman Jadyn Erickson went 1-2 at the dish with a timely single and stolen base in the sixth inning, setting up Grimes' game-tying hit.
 
Madison Miller also played a role in UTA's big sixth inning as she started things off with an RBI double before coming around to score later in the frame.
 
JoJo Valencia and Allie Gardiner came into the game in relief of Kennedy Hines and the two combined for 7.1 innings pitched, five strikeouts and four total hits while allowing zero runs.
 
The second game of today's doubleheader was decided on a lack of hitting on the Mavs' part and an error (the first one they've committed in four games) which allowed two runs to score in the third inning.
 
After UTA took a 2-1 lead in the top of the third inning off the bat of a 2-RBI Reagan Wright single, the Wildcats scored three runs in the bottom half of the inning to retake the lead and they never relinquished it back.
 
TEXAS A&M RECAP
 
UTA got off to a bit of a rough start in this one as the Mavs squandered a big opportunity to gain momentum and get on the scoreboard early with runners on first and second without any outs recorded.
 
Wright dropped down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners over to second and third, but as she approached the first baseman, who was running toward her to apply the tag, the senior captain stopped in her tracks and took one step backward. By NCAA rules, when the batter does this, the runners advancing are forced to go back to the base they originally started from. The Mavs were unable to take advantage of the inning and headed into the bottom of the first knowing they just wasted a prime opportunity to put some runs on the board.
 
To make matters worse, head coach Peejay Brun had to turn the bullpen early, pulling her starting pitcher Kennedy Hines from the ballgame in the middle of the first inning after the freshman surrendered four runs while recording just two outs.
 
JoJo Valencia was called into the game and quickly distinguished the mounting Aggie threat. The lefty remained in the circle and kept Texas A&M at bay for three more innings, striking out two batters while giving up just three hits while allowing UTA to stay within striking distance of a comeback.
 
The Aggies kept the Mavs off the board through the first three innings before Grimes stepped to the plate in the top of the fourth with two outs and a runner standing on second. The senior laced a single up the middle, allowing Murphy to come around to score the Mavs first run of the ballgame.
 
With momentum building, Valencia was able to get out of the fourth before handing the ball off to Gardiner after the Mavs were retired in order in the top of the fifth inning. The sophomore was able to keep the Aggies off the scoreboard again, setting the stage for UTA to step to the plate down three runs to begin the sixth inning.
 
Murphy started the inning off right for the Mavs by laying down a perfect bunt down the first base line, helping her reach with a leadoff single. Miller stepped to the dish with a 2-2 count and she ripped a double to left field, allowing Murphy to race around the bases. The Aggie left fielder bobbled the ball slightly and with Murphy's great base running, she was able to make it home without a throw, cutting the Texas A&M lead down to two runs.
 
Coach Brun then went to her bench and inserted the speedy freshman outfielder Jadyn Erickson to pinch hit. With two strikes, she slapped the ball toward second while getting a running start, beating the throw for an infield single while advancing Miller to third. On the very next pitch, Erickson stole the first base of her collegiate career, giving Grimes the opportunity to bat with two runners in scoring position.
 
After working the at-bat to a full-count, the second baseman delivered yet again, this time torching the ball on a line drive to right-center. Miller and Erickson came around to score, sending the Mavs headed into the sixth inning all tied up at 4-4.  
 
Gardiner came back out to the mound in the sixth and after allowing two batters to reach base with only one out recorded, the sophomore got consecutive Aggies to strike out swinging, sending the game into the seventh and final inning.
 
After the Mavs were retired in order, Gardiner yet again kept the UTA comeback alive as she recorded the final out of the seventh with her third strikeout, sending the game into extra innings.
 
Per international softball rules, in extras a runner will automatically start at second base for each team when the inning begins. This worked to UTA's advantage as Coach Brun doesn't look for the long ball to be the deciding factor of a ballgame and stresses the fundamentals of softball.
 
Miller led the eighth inning off with Murphy standing on second and with one strike, she laid down a perfectly placed sacrifice bunt, allowing the runner to advance to third. With one out, Grimes stepped to the plate with a runner in scoring position and for the third time she came through masterfully for her team once again. The senior smacked a double to right-center allowing Murphy to easily score, giving UTA its first lead of the ballgame.
 
With emotions riding high, Gardiner took to the circle once again, three outs away from completing the comeback. With a runner already on second, she lost control of a pitch and plunked the Aggie batter, setting the stage for them to put two runners in scoring position. On the very next pitch, the batter laid down a bunt toward the left side. Gardiner pounced on it and threw the ball over to third base, getting the force out.
 
Just two outs away from a win, the Texas A&M hitter laced a pitch toward second base. Grimes moved to her right and fielded it before taking three steps toward the bag. She touched it with her foot for the force-out before whipping the ball across her body toward first for the double-play and the huge early-season comeback win.
 
ABILENE CHRISTIAN RECAP
With UTA's emotions riding high and less than an hour after the Texas A&M game ended, the Mavs took to the field once again to face Abilene Christian.
 
Randi Phillips started off in the circle for UTA and after she retired the first five batters of the ballgame in order, she got herself in trouble in the second after walking two consecutive Wildcats. The very next batter singled down the left field line, giving Abilene Christian its first run of the game.
 
UTA came back up in the top of the third and worked two consecutive walks to lead off the inning. With two outs, Wright gave the Mavs their first lead with a single through the right side of the infield, allowing Grimes and Erickson to come around to score.
 
Ahead 2-1, Phillips gave up a one-out triple in the bottom of the third inning before the next Wildcat hit a weak ground ball to the pitcher, allowing the batter to reach first base while tying the game up at 2-2.
 
Phillips gave up another hit before being pulled in favor of the freshman Hines. Unfortunately, the first batter she faced, UTA committed its first error of the season which loaded the bases and allowed the inning to continue. With two outs, Abilene Christian took advantage by working a walk, scoring another run before tacking on one more off a wild pitch.
 
After getting out of the third inning, Hines gave up zero runs and only one hit through three more frames, finishing with 3.2 innings pitched and two strikeouts. The error proved costly as Abilene Christian was able to put themselves ahead 2-4, a score UTA would never come back from.
 
Wright was the lone Mav to finish with more than one hit as UTA totaled just four base-knocks in the ballgame.
 
UTA now sits at 2-2 through the first four games of the tournament and will look to get back on track against the Wildcats tomorrow morning with its fifth and final game of the Aggie Classic set to begin at 9:00 a.m.