ARLINGTON, Texas – For the first time in 38 years, the UT Arlington baseball team (20-22, 8-5 Sun Belt) threw a no-hitter as
Carlos Tavera and
Tanner King threw a combined 11-inning no-hitter against the Little Rock Trojans (18-19, 9-7 Sun Belt). The Mavericks used a walk-off sacrifice fly from
Connor Aube to win the game 1-0 in the bottom of the 11
th inning.
This is just the second no-hitter to ever take place at Clay Gould Ballpark, joining Doug Osterloh from 1974. It is also just the sixth no-hitter to take place in program history.
The previous five no-hitters were all seven inning performances, making today's 11-inning no hitter the longest in program history. It is also the only combined no-hitter for the Mavericks.
The Mavericks allowed just three baserunners into scoring position all night with no Trojan advancing past second base.
"It all starts with Carlos," said head coach
Darin Thomas. "We normally don't let him that many pitches, but he deserved an opportunity heading into the ninth."
Tavera threw nine innings of no-hit baseball, the most innings pitched by a Maverick pitcher in a no-hitter. Tavera has now gone 20.2 innings pitched without allowing any runs, while striking out 30 batters along the way.
"I felt really good in the bullpen warming up," said Tavera. "After the fourth or fifth inning I knew all my stuff was working and I just kept rolling."
Tavera threw 132 pitches over his nine-innings pitched but walked just three batters. He added 11 strikeouts to increase his season total to 89 – the most in the Sun Belt.
King (W, 3-0) took over in the 10
th inning and threw the final two no-hit innings for the Mavericks. King struck out three batters and didn't allow a baserunner.
"I knew [Tavera] had a no-hitter when I came in, so I just did my best to keep that going," said King.
"We have to give credit to [King] on the backside, because he was just as good," said Thomas.
The Mavericks were stuck in a pitcher's duel, as the offense came away with just five hits in the game against three Trojans starters.
The game stood still until the bottom of the 11
th.
Boone Montgomery and
Phillip Childs reached base and advanced into scoring position from a wild pitch.
Connor Aube connected on a fly ball to right field which allowed Montgomery to beat the throw home and give the Mavericks the 1-0 win.
UP NEXT
The Mavericks will round out the series against Little Rock tomorrow with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. at Clay Gould Ballpark.
