ARLINGTON, Texas – The UT Arlington baseball team (24-21, 14-9 WAC) walked off the Lancers of California Baptist (25-22, 13-10 WAC) 4-3 off the bat of
Cade Sumbler on Saturday afternoon at Clay Gould Ballpark.
With the win, that makes two walk-off wins in the previous three games and marks the seventh game the Mavericks have won when trailing entering the 7th inning or later.
It was a pitcher's duel through the first 4 innings of play, with neither team plating a run and just six base hits combined between the two teams. Cal Baptist pushed across a run in the top of the 5th to take a 1-0 lead, and that's where we would stand until the bottom of the 8th inning.
UTA scratched across three runs in the bottom of the 8th to take a 3-1 lead. The Mavs plated all three runs with two outs in the inning, starting with Pointer being hit by the pitch with the bases loaded to bring in the first run, and ending with an Armstrong single to left field to score the final two runs of the inning.
The Lancers scored twice in the top of the 9th to tie the game, 3-3.
In the bottom half of the 9th, CBU recorded a quick two outs before Galvan was hit by a pitch and a Black single to center put runners on first and second for the Mavs. After a pitching change, Sumbler stepped up to the plate. On an 0-1 count, Sumbler launched a pitch to right field, over the outstretched arms of the right fielder just shy of the warning track to score Galvan from second and earn the victory for the Mavs.
All four of UTA's runs came with two outs. With the win, the Mavs regain control of third place in the WAC standings.
UTA finished with 10 hits as a team, the 21st game in which the Mavs have garnered 10 or more hits in a game.
Tyce Armstrong led the way going 3-4 with a double to go along with two RBIs.
The hero Sumbler went 2-5 with a double as well as the game winning RBI while also scoring a run.
Tyson Pointer finished his afternoon with two base hits and one RBI.
Wilson Galvan,
Ryan Black and
Matt Cavanagh all finished with one base hit with Galvan scoring twice to round out the offensive output for the Mavs. Galvan extended his streak of reaching base safely to 32 games.
The Mavs used four pitchers on the afternoon, with
Zach Norris getting his first start of the season on the mound. Norris did not disappoint, tossing a strong 6.0 innings and allowing one run on seven hits while striking out two and walking one batter over the 25 batters he faced.
Jack Hagan came in relief for Norris with Hagan going 1.0 inning and allowing no runs and one hit for his outing.
Hunter Marshall relieved Hagan with Marshall also going 1.0 inning and not allowing a hit while punching out a batter.
Matt Novis closed out the game for the Mavs, picking up the victory on the mound. Novis has been the winning pitcher on both Mavs walk-off wins, moving his record to 3-1 for the season.
NEXT UP
The series finale is scheduled for Sunday, May 7, with first pitch coming at noon. The Mavs are looking for their fifth series win in a row and to distance themselves in the WAC standings.
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