ARLINGTON, Texas – A Sunday doubleheader sweep completed a weekend series sweep for the UT Arlington baseball team (22-22, 10-5 Sun Belt) as they defeated Little Rock (18-21, 9-9 Sun Belt) 5-4 in game one before completing a 3-0 shutout in game two. With the two wins on Sunday, the Mavericks move into first place in the Sun Belt West.
"It was a team effort," said head coach
Darin Thomas. "Bullpen, starters, all our pitchers were outstanding. [
Josh Minjarez] made some big league plays all weekend. It was a long day, but they really brought the energy and showed they wanted it."
GAME ONE | UTA wins 5-4
Kody Bullard picked up the start for the Mavericks, tossing 5.1 innings in the win. The junior lefty struck out seven batters while allowing four runs off seven hits.
Michael Wong (W, 3-1) threw 2.2 shutout innings and picked up his third win on the year. He struck out three batters along the way.
Tanner King (W, 2) threw the final innings, keeping the Trojans off the board and securing the win for the Mavericks.
The Mavericks finished with 12 hits on the day, led by
Dylan Paul's 3-for-5 effort at the plate. Paul also led the Mavericks with three RBI.
Boone Montgomery and
Cason Gregory both finished with a multi-hit performance.
Connor Aube and
JD Wadleigh drove in the other two runs for the Mavericks.
The Trojans got started in the first inning, picking up their first hits and run of the series. Little Rock hit a two-out double before being brought home with a single to right field to score the first run of the game.
The Mavericks came to life in the third inning, taking the lead for the first time in the game. The first four batters reached base.
Boone Montgomery doubled to lead off the inning and advanced to third from a single off the bat of
Phillip Childs.
Connor Aube drove in Montgomery before
Dylan Paul doubled down the right field line to score Aube and Childs.
The Trojans answered in the fourth with a two-out rally. A walk began the rally before back-to-back singles were deep enough to allow the runners from first to score as Little Rock even the game at three.
Little Rock retook the lead in the top of the fifth with another two-out rally. With a runner on second, the Trojans connected on a single to right field to push the runner home and take a 4-3 lead.
The Trojan lead wouldn't last, as the Mavericks quickly tied the game in the bottom frame. With runners on first and second,
JD Wadleigh drilled a line drive that hit the left field line and found it's way to the corner to score
Dylan Paul.
An inning later, with two outs, the Trojans intentionally walked Aube to get to Paul. With runners on first and second, Paul single to right field to score
Sam Gotlieb for the go-ahead score as the Mavericks led 5-4.
The Trojans wouldn't threaten the rest of the game as the Mavericks held on to the win to clinch the series.
GAME TWO| UTA wins 3-0
David Moffat (W, 4-3) threw a gem in the second game of the doubleheader. The junior didn't allow a run across 7.0 IP while striking out five batters.
Brayden Brooks and
Logan Austin (S, 2) finished the job for the Mavericks, each throwing one shutout inning to capture the win.
Little Rock had their chances to score, but the Maverick pitching and defense prevented any runners to cross the plate, stranding eight Trojans throughout the game.
UTA finished the game with eight hits.
Boone Montgomery and
Phillip Childs each ended with a 2-for-4 game at the plate. Montgomery,
Connor Aube, and
Dylan Paul each drove in one run for the Mavericks.
The game started with boom as
Boone Montgomery took the first pitch he saw as the leadoff batter and drove it over the left field wall for a solo shot as the Mavs took the lead.
Connor Aube added another run in the fourth inning. Hitting a bases loaded sacrifice fly to left field to put the Mavericks up 2-0. It was his 7
th sacrifice fly of the season – the second most in the NCAA.
The Trojans threatened in the seventh inning, putting runners at second and third. A hard ground ball up the gut of the Maverick defense appeared to be hit well enough to score their first run. Instead,
Josh Minjarez ended with a web gem. The senior grabbed the ball in the centerfield grass behind second base and made an off-balance throw to beat the runner at first and end the inning, preserving the shutout.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Mavericks hit their second home run of the game off the bat of
Dylan Paul. The solo shot was his sixth home run of the season.
UP NEXT
The Mavericks will stay in Arlington, but head back to Globe Life Field to take on Texas A&M for their midweek contest. The game is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m.
