ARLINGTON, Texas - Two errors allowed three-runs to score in the ninth inning, catapulting the South Alabama Jaguars past the UT Arlington baseball team on Saturday 6-4 as the Jaguars evened the weekend series with the Mavericks. UTA falls to 7-10 overall and 1-1 in Sun Belt, while South Alabama improves to 9-9 overall and 1-1 in Sun Belt.
The Jaguars book ended their scoring, putting up three runs in both the first and ninth inning, but were held scoreless in innings two through eight.
Kody Bullard picked up the start for the Mavericks, tossing 5.1 innings. He allowed three runs off two hits and six walks. After walking five batters and allowing three runs in the first, Bullard settled in and kept the Jags off the board for the remaining 4.1 innings.
Logan Austin came on in relief for Bullard, tossing 2.2 scoreless innings for the Mavericks.
Zach Norris (L, 1-2) came on in the ninth, giving up three runs off two hits. Only one run was earned.
Tanner King ended the ninth with a strikeout.
The Mavericks finished with six hits on the day.
Connor Aube and
Boone Montgomery each ended the day going 2-for-4 at the plate. Josh Minajrez and
Tommy Williams both finished with one hit. Aube drove in four runs for the Mavericks, including a three-run home run in the fifth inning.
After loading the bases with three walks, the Jags executed a squeeze bunt to score the first run. With the bases loaded, another walk pushed the next run home. South Alabama used a ground out to the pitcher to score their final run of the inning and take an early 3-0 lead.
The Mavs got one back in the third inning. With two outs, Williams hit a double to left field to get into scoring position. A single by Aube to right center with the next at-bat pushed Williams home for the first Maverick run.
Two walks put runners at first and second for Aube in the fifth inning. He took the second pitch at bat and drove it over the left field wall for his second home run of the season, giving the Mavericks a 4-3 lead in the process.
The score remained the same until the ninth inning. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases for the Jags. With one out, Benne Shell hit a ground ball to second base, but an error on the double-play attempt allowed a run to score and kept the bases loaded.
A sacrifice fly with the next at-bat gave the Jaguars the lead, before a second error by the Mavericks allowed the third run cross the plate, giving the Jags a 6-4 lead.
The Mavericks would get baserunners on first and second in the bottom of the ninth, but with two outs, a strikeout would end the game.
The Mavericks will play the rubber match against South Alabama tomorrow at 11 am at Clay Gould Ballpark.
