ARLINGTON, Texas – The UT Arlington Mavericks (8-10, 3-1 WAC) pick up their first home WAC victory in a decade over the Abilene Christian Wildcats (14-4, 3-1 WAC) by a final score of 4-3.
 
In a tightly contested game, a Cade Sumbler solo homerun to left field, his first of the season, in the 8th proved to be the deciding factor for the Mavericks.
 
UTA finished with eight hits on the night and stealing four bases, led by the hero Sumbler with two and the go-ahead RBI while adding a stolen base on his stat line. Garrison Berkley ended his night with one hit and driving in one run while also swiping a bag. Wilson Galvan joined the party also, recording one base hit and stealing a base.
 
Six Mavericks capped their night with one hit, Berkley, Galvan, Ben Lumsden, Ryan Black, Steven Saunders and Tyler Rice. Tyson Pointer closed his night driving in one run on a sacrifice fly while also swiping a base.
 
It was a battle of the bullpens as both starting pitchers for the Mavericks and Wildcats went four innings, each giving up three runs. Gabe Starks got the start on the mound for UTA, finishing his outing allowing six hits while striking out three batters.
 
UTA used three pitchers in relief of Starks, with Matt Novis coming into the game in the 5th inning. Novis would go 2.2 innings, allowing two hits and striking out three to keep things notched at three runs.
 
Gray Bailey entered the game in the 7th inning with two outs and runners on first and second before striking out the Wildcat batter looking to strand the runners. Bailey then returned to the mound for the 8th inning where he was dominant, not allowing a hit and striking out two to finish his outing with three punch outs on the night and earning the victory.
 
Connery Peters finished off the game for the Mavericks to pick his team leading sixth save on the year, which should move him into a tie for first nationally.
 
Abilene Christian went up early, plating one run in the 1st inning and two runs in the 2nd inning. The Mavericks would respond with one run of their own in the 3rd inning and two more runs in the 4th inning.
 
After that, it was a nail biter as both teams had opportunities to score in the remaining innings.
 
In the bottom of the 5th, UTA had the bases loaded with two outs when Sumbler ripped a pitch up the middle, but the pitcher got a glove on it deflecting it right to the shortstop for the easy flip to the second baseman covering to escape the inning.
 
In the top of the 6th, the Wildcats were able to get two runners on base with one out before Novis induced an inning ending 6-4-3 double play.
 
NEXT UP
The Mavericks look to take the series tomorrow, March 18, and claim their second WAC series win. First pitch is slated for 2 p.m. at Clay Gould Ballpark.
 
FOLLOW THE MAVS
For the latest news on UTA Baseball, log on to UTAMavs.com or stay connected to the Mavs on social media. Follow the Mavericks on Twitter @UTAMavsBSB, on Instagram @UTAMavsBSB and on Facebook at Facebook.com/UTAMavsBSB.