GLOBE LIFE FIELD – The 2021 season started off with a bang for the UT Arlington baseball team, run-ruling the Tarleton State Texans 14-1 (7) at Globe Life Field on Tuesday night.
 
The Mavericks used five pitchers in the seven-inning game, with no pitching going more than two innings.  Kody Bullard (W, 1-0) started and earned the win, striking out four batters in 2.0 innings pitched.  The Mavericks combined for 10 strikeouts (Bullard – 4, Carlos Tavera – 1, Cade Winquest – 2, David Moffat – 1, Riley Bost – 2).
 
UTA finished with 15 hits on the day.  Connor Aube, Wyatt Divis, Dylan Paul, Phillip Childs and Tyler Rice each finished with two hits.  Andrew Miller and Paul finished with a team-high three RBI on the night, while Miller led the Mavs with three runs scored.  Paul finished with a 1.000 on-base percentage, going 2-for-2 at the plate and earning two walks.
 
The Mavs wasted no time getting on the board.  Paul drove in the first two runs of the season with a single to left field in the first inning, before Josh Minjarez knocked in Paul with a double to right field.
 
The second inning was the lone scoreless inning for the Mavericks, as Paul put UTA back on the board in the third with a double to right field.  Childs and Rice picked up singles through the left side of the infield to put the Mavs up 6-0 after three.
 
The scoring continued in the fourth as Aube, Miller and Childs each knocked in one run a piece.
 
The Texans got one back in the fifth with a sacrifice fly, but Miller nullified it with a three-run double, while Childs extended the game with another single up the middle.
 
Freshman Cason Gregory made the most out of his lone at-bat, cracking a double to center field, which was muffed and allowed Rice to score the final run of the game.
 
The Mavericks will be back in action tomorrow night against No. 25 Oklahoma at 7:30 p.m. at Globe Life Field.