ARLINGTON, Texas – The UT Arlington baseball team (7-10, 2-1 WAC) return home to welcome Abilene Christian (14-3, 3-0 WAC) for the Mavericks first home WAC series this weekend (March 17-19).
 
UTA NOTES

• Coming into the midweek series with Texas Tech, the NCAA RPI rankings had the Mavericks ranked 86. After the Red Raiders series, the current NCAA RPI rankings has UTA moving up five spots, coming in at 81 heading into the weekend series.
• Junior transfer Tyson Pointer has been impressive at the plate this season, coming in tied for third in the NCAA in doubles (10) and 11th in doubles per game (0.59). Pointer currently leads the Mavericks in doubles (10), slugging percentage (.577), RBIs (16), tied for the team lead in triples (1) and homeruns (2), while ranking second on the team in OPS (.937), hits (23) and runs scored (13).
• Freshman Ryan Black has started his collegiate career off with a bang, leading the Mavericks in several offensive categories: batting average (.381), hits (24), OPS (1.000), on-base percentage (.444), runs scored (15) and tied for the team lead in homeruns (2) while driving in 14 runs, good for second on the team.
• Garrison Berkley has been on fire as of lately, going 11-23 (.478) in his last five games to raise his season average to .328. Ranks third on the team in hits (22) and RBIs (13).
• On the mound, Gabe Starks has been near unhittable in his last three starts surrendering seven hits and four runs, three earned, in 17 innings pitched and collecting two victories. His ERA for the season is an impressive 3.66 while leading UTA in punch outs with 26 on the year.
• Sunday starter, Caden Noah in 19.2 innings pitched on the season leads the Mavericks in ERA (3.20), tied for the team lead in wins (2) and is second on the team with 17 strikeouts in his four starts on the mound.
• Connery Peters is tied for third in the NCAA with five saves on the year.

 
ABILENE CHRISTIAN NOTES

• This is the first road series for the Wildcats with 16 of their games being home games and one neutral site game at Globe Life Field vs Oklahoma.
• Currently are ranked second in the NCAA in fielding percentage (0.990).
• The Wildcats 14 wins through 17 games is the best start in program history at the Division 1 level.
• Seven Wildcats boast batting averages of .300 or higher.
• Grayson Tatrow is currently riding an eight-game hitting streak while Miller Ladusau has an on-base streak of 11 games in a row.

 
PROJECTED PITCHING MATCHUPS

• Friday, March 17, 6:30 p.m. – RHP Gabe Starks (2-0, 3.66 ERA) vs RHP Tyler Morgan (1-0, 2.25 ERA)
• Saturday, March 18, 2:00 p.m. – RHP Brayden Brooks (0-1, 6.55 ERA) vs RHP Breck Eichelberger (1-0, 7.43 ERA)
• Sunday, March 19, 1:00 p.m. – LHP Caden Noah (2-0, 3.20 ERA) vs RHP Austin Glaze (1-0, 3.07 ERA)

 
SERIES HISTORY
This will be the 14th, 15th and 16th meeting between the two programs with UTA leading the all-time series, 8-5. At Clay Gould Ballpark, the Mavericks have a 4-3 record over the Wildcats.
 
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