LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Behind an incredible performance from the arm of sophomore pitcher
Jessica Adams, the UT Arlington softball team soared to a doubleheader sweep Friday night at NM State.
With 15 innings of work, Adams powered through a total of 64 batters in two complete games, leading UTA to the series win over the Aggies. With Friday's pair of wins, the righty moves on to 12 wins on the season.
The Mavericks added two more wins to their overall record of 19-23 with a conference record of 9-8.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE: at NM State (W, 5-3)
UTA pieced seven hits together in game one of Friday's doubleheader as senior
Lindsey Franklin led the way, capping a perfect 3-3 performance at the plate with the game-tying home run that started seventh-inning rally for the Mavs.
Reagan Hukill (104),
Morgan Westbrook (1-4, 2 RBI),
Meagan Smith (1-4, 2 RBI) and
Alaina Hampton (1-1) all contributed with one hit each.
The Mavericks relied solely on the arm of
Jessica Adams as the righty threw her eighth complete game of the season. The sophomore faced 30 Aggies, limiting NM State's lineup to just three runs off six hits. UTA went on to defeat the Aggies, taking game one of the series, 5-3, giving Adams her 11th win.
PLAY BY PLAY: at NM State (W, 5-3)
- Adams held the Aggies to no hits through three innings before Riley Carley knocked the first hit for NM State which got the Aggies on the board with one. Shortly after, an RBI-single up the middle scored NM State's second run, taking a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth.
- After Neises drew her third walk of the game, Smith smacked a two-run home run that tied things up in the top of the sixth, 2-2.
- The Aggies answered back in the bottom of the sixth with a solo shot from Carley that lifted to NM State to a 3-2 lead.
- In its last ups, Franklin tied things up, once again, with a solo shot over the left field wall. With two runners on, Westbrook knocked an RBI-triple to right field that allowed the Mavs to take a 5-3 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh.
- Adams and the Mavericks' defense kept the Aggies off the board, taking game one of the three-game series.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE: at NM State (W, 7-6) 8 Innings
Junior
Zaia Castruita paced UTA's offense going 2-3 at the plate with an RBI in game two of the doubleheader.
Hukill (1-4),
Marley Neises (1-2, 2 RBI),
Kimber Cortemelia (1-2, 3 RBI),
Paris Brienesse (1-2) and
Jacquelyn Adams (1-1) also logged hits, aiding to the Mavs' seven-hit total.
Head coach
Kara Dill gave Adams her second start against NM State. The righty put up yet another incredible performance on the mound, tossing her ninth complete game of the season. Adams remained focused through eight innings with the Aggies, allowing six runs off 10 hits.
The Mavericks offense backed Adams up, coming away with the doubleheader sweep which gave the Texas native her 12th win overall.
PLAY BY PLAY: at NM State (W, 7-6) 8 Innings
- Hukill led things off with a double down the left field line and advanced to third off a sacrifice bunt from Neises. Westbrook collected her third RBI of the day as she scored Hukill with a grounder to second base.
- NM State took a 2-1 lead in its first at-bats with an RBI-double to the right center gap.
- Cortemelia answered back with a three-run shot over the left center wall in the top of the third, scoring Neises and Westbrook on the bases as the Mavs took a 4-2 lead.
- The Aggies cut the deficit to one after a solo home run from the bat of Jillian Taylor in the bottom of the third.
- NM State tied things up in the fourth with another home run before taking the lead in the fifth inning with an RBI-single through the left side.
- Kaylin Jackson smacked a solo bomb that extended the Aggies' lead to 6-4 in the sixth inning.
- Neises ripped an RBI-single up the middle in the top of the seventh that scored two runs for UTA, tying things up 6-6.
- Castruita was responsible for the go-ahead run as she knocked in Brienesse with an RBI-double to take the lead in the eighth inning. Adams went on to shut the Aggie offense down, coming away with the doubleheader sweep.
ON DECK
UTA will wrap up its time at NM State with the series finale Saturday, Apr. 22 with a 1 p.m. start time from the NM State Softball Complex.
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