ARLINGTON, Texas - Following a third straight Sun Belt Conference series win, the UT Arlington baseball team (16-19, 7-5 SBC) will play two non-conference mid-week games this week against two Big 12 opponents. The action will start in Fort Worth where UTA will take on the 5th-ranked TCU Horned Frogs on Tuesday before returning to Clay Gould Ballpark to take on the Kansas Jayhawks on Wednesday.
UTA NOTES
- After going hitless in the 16 games played last season, Boone Montgomery has become the most reliable hitter for the Mavericks. The junior leads the squad in batting average (.336), slugging percentage (.525), on base percentage (.449), hits (41), total bases (64), walks (21) and runs scored (25).
- The Mavericks return 90 percent of their innings pitched and 95 percent of their strikeouts from a season ago.
- After starting the season batting just .118 through the first 20 games, Andrew Miller has found his groove. Over the past 14 games, the senior is batting .389 with 12 RBI and 7 runs scored.
- Josh Minjarez is closing in on a couple records for UTA. He has played in the 2nd most games in UTA history and is 3 shy of the record held by Darrell Preston (230, 2001-2004). His mark of 227 games played is also the 5th highest active mark in the country. He also has the 3rd most at-bats (811) and 7th most base hits (228), 5th most total bases (339), and 7th most home runs (23).
- After winning their last three Sun Belt Conference series, the Mavericks will take a break with their next six games coming against non-conference opponents.
- UTA is toward the end of a stretch where 16 of their 20 games are on the road. The Mavericks are currently 6-6 at visiting ballparks during the stretch.
- The Mavericks record this year has been determined by the first three innings. When leading after three, the Mavericks are 11-3. However, when trailing after three, UTA is just 3-12.
KNOW YOUR OPPONENT | #5 TCU
- The Horned Frogs have one of the top offenses in the country. TCU is in the top 10 in walks (3), runs scored (2) and on-base percentage (7).
- TCU has been aggressive on the base paths this season. They led the Big 12 with 73 stolen bases and rank 7th in the country in that category.
- Haylen Green is the ace out of the bullpen. The closer has 8 saves on the season, leading the Big 12 and ranking 5th in the country. He also has the 3rd best strikeout to walk ration in the nation at 14.33 strikeouts per walk.
- Phillip Sikes and Brayden Taylor are tied for 28th in the country in runs scored, both crossing home plate 36 times on the year.
SERIES HISTORY
The Horned Frogs lead the all-time series 107-60-1, but the Mavericks have won the last two games. TCU won the first contest between the two team earlier this season 5-3 in Arlington. UTA took the last game in Fort Worth last season with UTA coming out on top 6-4 in 12 innings.
KNOW YOUR OPPONENT | Kansas
- The Jayhawks have been patient at the plate this season, ranking 16th in the country in walks.
- Tavian Josenberger has laid down the 7th most sacrifice bunts in the country this year with seven. he leads the Big 12 in that category. He is also third in the country with four triples.
- While the Jayhawks are 12-6 at home or at neutral sites, they are just 9-9 in true road games.
- Three Jayhawk batters are hitting over .300 on the season. Josenberger, Skyler Messinger and Maui Ahuna are all at least 24 points above the mark.
SERIES HISTORY
This is just the 13th time that the two squads have met, and the first time since 2000. The series is even at six game each. The Jayhawks lead the series in Arlington 5-3, while th Mavericks lead in Lawrence 3-1.
2021 BASEBALL HOME GAME SPECTATOR POLICY
Due primarily to COVID-related space constraints, general-public spectators
are not permitted at home UTA baseball games this season. UTA and the visiting team will be permitted a pass list – those individuals on the team-approved list will be allowed to attend. Those spectators will be seated in pods of four (4) socially-distanced seats, labeled for home or visiting team.
Guests are permitted to bring their own drinks and food as concessions will not be available. However,
alcohol is not permitted. Tailgating is also prohibited.
The Mocek Patio down the left-field line will be closed to the public; this space will be allocated for expanded visiting dugout seating.
There will be no post-game guest interaction inside Clay Gould Ballpark. There will be a designated area outside the stadium for those on the pass list to meet with student-athletes.
Dogs are welcome, and a short online waiver – which is good for the entire season – can be completed upon arrival.
Mask wearing and social-distancing measures are in place whenever on campus, and Sun Belt Conference and university COVID protocols must be followed.
BASEBALL HOME GAME COVERAGE
For the first time in department history, UTA Athletics will broadcast nine (9) home baseball games exclusively on ESPN+ and the ESPN App. For all other home games not on ESPN+, there will be a live audio broadcast on UTAMavs.com. Live stats will be available for each game as well, in addition to social-media coverage and postgame content.
Due to contractual obligations between the Sun Belt Conference and ESPN, beginning in 2020-21 all live UTA Athletics game broadcasts must be shown on ESPN+ and adhere to minimum standards. Infrastructure is not in place to reach those standards; thus, there will be no live video broadcasts aside from the aforementioned nine (9) ESPN+ contests set forth in the Sun Belt-ESPN contract utilizing third-party equipment. UTA Athletics' goal is to have full ESPN+ capabilities beginning in the 2022 season.
ESPN+ SCHEDULE
Apr. 9 – vs. Coastal Carolina
Apr. 10 – vs. Coastal Carolina
Apr. 11 – vs. Coastal Carolina
Apr. 30 – vs. Little Rock
May 1 – vs. Little Rock
May 2 – vs. Little Rock
May 14 – vs. Louisiana
May 15 – vs. Louisiana
May 16 – vs. Louisiana
FOLLOW THE MAVS
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