ARLINGTON, Texas – The UT Arlington Mavericks (8-11, 3-2 WAC) were defeated by the Abilene Christian Wildcats (15-4, 4-1 WAC) on Saturday afternoon at Clay Gould Ballpark.
 
The bats came alive for the Mavericks in the final two innings, scoring four runs on four hits. Ben Lumsden drove in three of those four runs with two emphatic homeruns, his first a two-run homer to right center to cut the Maverick deficit in half, and a mammoth moonshot to dead center field in the bottom of the ninth. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Tyson Pointer followed Lumsden's lead with a solo blast to right center field, almost in the exact location of Lumsden's.
 
UTA finished with eight hits total for the game, led by Lumsden with two hits, both homeruns, and driving in three runs while scoring two as well as drawing two walks. Six Mavericks collected one hit for the game, Pointer with his homerun, Ryan Black (1), Cade Sumbler (1), Wilson Galvan (1), Tyler Rice (1) and Zach Henry (1).
 
Brayden Brooks got the start on the mound for the Mavericks and went 4.0 innings, giving up four runs on six hits and striking out five. In relief of Brooks, Thomas Kuykendall entered the game and was highly effective for the 4.0 innings he pitched. Kuykendall surrendered no hits while allowing two hits in his appearance. Jack Hagan finished the game for UTA, allowing one unearned run to score on two hits.
 
Abilene Christian jumped out to an early lead, plating three runs in the top of the 2nd inning, and adding one more in the top of the 3rd inning. 
 
Zeros were put up across the scoreboard for the middle four innings for both sides as both pitching staffs worked diligently. 
 
In the bottom of the 8th inning, the Mavericks made it very interesting as they smash two homeruns from Lumsden and Pointer to draw within one run of the Wildcats. Sumbler was walked, followed by a double off the bat of Galvan to the left field corner and moving himself and Sumbler into scoring position. Rice was intentionally walked to load the bases.
 
Stepping up to the plate was Sam Crowell who gave it a gallant effort, running the count to full before foul tipping a pitch into the catcher's glove to end the Mavericks threat.
 
Abilene Christian scored two runs in the top of the 9th inning to extend their lead to 6-3. Lumsden's second homerun of the game in the bottom half of the inning put UTA within two, and that's where things would end.
 
NEXT UP
The WAC series between Abilene Christian and UT Arlington concludes tomorrow, March 19. The rubber match is slated for a 1 p.m. start time.
 
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