ARLINGTON, Texas – A career-day on the mound from Carlos Tavera wasn't enough to power the UT Arlington baseball team past Stephen F. Austin on Friday night, falling to the Lumberjacks 5-2 at Clay Gould Ballpark. The Mavericks fall to 1-2 with the loss, while SFA improves to 2-0.
 
Carlos Tavera picked up his first start of the season and put on a show.  Tavera struck out a career-high 12 batters in just 5.0 innings pitched.  He walked just three batters and gave up one hit, while not allowing any runs.
 
Matt Novis (0-1) came in for relief of Tavera but gave up three runs off one hit and two walks.  Riley Bost pitched for 1.2 innings, allowing one run off two hits.  Brennan Smith finished the final 1.2 innings of the game, with one unearned run scoring.
 
The Mavericks struggled at the plate, finishing with just two hits on the night coming off the bats of Connor Aube and Phillip Childs. Wyatt Divis and Boone Montgomery were the only Mavericks who were brought home to score.
 
Despite not having a hit in the first three innings, the Mavericks were still able to get on board first.  Montgomery reached base safely thanks to an error, before coming home on a wild pitch.
 
With just one hit going into the sixth, the Lumberjacks settled in and had the inning that would ultimately be the difference maker.  Two walks put runners in scoring position before Sean Moore hit a single to score the first Lumberjack run.  Following another walk, Chane Dodge connected on a pitch, hitting a three-run home run to make it a 4-1 game.
 
The score would stay the same until the bottom of the 8^th when Wyatt Divis would be walked and eventually score off another wild pitch.
 
The Lumberjacks got one back in the ninth, increasing their lead back up to three runs with an RBI single from Kyle Cullen up the gut of the Maverick defense.
 
With the game on the line, the Mavericks were able to load the bases with two outs in the bottom of the ninth. Dylan Paul was unable to put the ball in play, however, hitting a long fly ball to right field to end the game.
 
UTA will be back in action tomorrow at 2 p.m. against the Lumberjacks in double header action.  The second game will start 40 minutes following the conclusion of game one.