ARLINGTON, Texas – With Saturday's doubleheader sweep, the UT Arlington softball team not only clinched the series with Sam Houston but clinched its spot in the 2023 Western Athletic Conference Championship.
The Mavericks move on to an overall record of 21-28 with a conference record of 11-13 after a complete game shutout from the arm of
Jessica Adams followed by a walk-off extra-inning win – courtesy of the game-winning RBI-single from fifth year
Kimber Cortemelia.
WAC TOURNAMENT BREAKDOWN | TOURNAMENT CENTRAL
Saturday's pair of wins were crucial for the Mavericks as UTA will enter the conference tournament at Grand Canyon University as the 7th seed.
To kick off the WAC Tournament, UTA will turn around and face off with #6 Sam Houston, once again, as the two programs will meet Wednesday, May 10 in the single elimination round at 10 a.m. PT/12 p.m. CT.
The winner will advance and take on #3 Stephen F. Austin at 4 p.m. PT/6 p.m. CT that same day.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE: vs Sam Houston (W, 11-0) 5 Innings
Senior
Reagan Hukill showed out on Senior Day going 3-4 at the plate with an RBI where Cortemelia also came away with a three-hit performance.
The Mavericks' offense was electric at Allan Saxe as the team compiled 11 runs off 10 hits, ultimately ending in five innings. Senior
Jadyn Erickson (1-1),
Meagan Smith (1-2, 4 RBI),
Lindsey Franklin (1-2) and
Zaia Castruita (1-2, 1 RBI) aided to the run-rule victory with Smith collecting her seventh home run and 23rd RBI on the year.
Sophomore Adams threw another gem on the mound, limiting Sam Houston to just two hits. The righty logged her 10th complete game of the season and 13th win overall.
PLAY BY PLAY: vs Sam Houston (W, 11-0) 5 Innings
- UTA scored first after turning in a six-run second inning as Cortemelia got the rally going with a lead-off solo home run. Shortly after, Wideman scored off a Bearkat throwing error before Hukill ripped an RBI-single through the left side, which made it a 3-0 game. A walk from Westbrook, a fielder's choice from Smith and another SHSU error extended UTA's lead to 6-0. Castruita was responsible for the Mavs' seventh run after a bases-loaded walk.
- The Mavericks piled on four more runs in the bottom of the third – courtesy of a three-run home run and a wild pitch that scored pinch-runner Nicole Hill. UTA held an 11-0 lead heading into the fourth
- Adams went on to throw a complete game shutout, limiting the Bearkats' to just two hits.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE: vs Sam Houston (W, 5-4)
UTA totaled 20 hits on the day after turning in another 10-hit performance in the series finale. Cortemelia concluded the day with a total of five hits after finishing 2-4 at the plate where her final hit knocked in the go-ahead run which secured the series win.
Franklin (2-4) and
Morgan Westbrook (2-4) joined Cortemelia in logging multi-hit efforts. Smith (1-4, 2 RBI) and
Marley Neises (1-4, 1 RBI) were the two responsible for UTA's pair of home runs as Smith belted her second of the day.
Fifth year
Sophie Wideman (1-3, 1 RBI) and junior Castruita (1-2) also put up one hit apiece.
In the circle, junior
Gracie Bumpurs started in her 19th game for the Mavericks as she faced just eight batters before Adams came in to throw the remainder of the game. The sophomore allowed two earned runs off seven hits, coming away with a pair of strike outs.
With the Mavericks' walk-off win, Adams earned the win.
PLAY BY PLAY: vs Sam Houston (W, 5-4)
- Sam Houston scored first in its first at-bats with an RBI-single up the middle from the bat of Julia Herzinger.
- Smith put UTA on top with a two-run bomb – her second of the day – that score Westbrook in the bottom of the second.
- The 'Kats regained the lead in the second after an RBI-double double and an infield single, which put SHSU up 3-2.
- After a scoreless inning on UTA's end, Sam Houston extended its lead to 4-2 with another RBI-double to center in the top of the third.
- With back-to-back singles from Franklin and Cortemelia, Wideman came in clutch with an RBI-single up the middle that made it a 4-3 game in the bottom of the sixth.
- Neises tied things up in the bottom of the seventh inning with a solo bomb to center field that led into extra innings.
- Franklin led things off with a double down the right field line before Cortemelia sent a single in the left center gap that brought around the winning run, taking the series with the Bearkats.
ON DECK
The Mavericks will head to Phoenix, Arizona next week for the WAC Tournament as UTA will take on #6 Sam Houston Wednesday, May 10 in the single elimination round at 10 a.m. PT/12 p.m. CT. from GCU Softball Stadium.
FOLLOW THE MAVS
For the latest news on UTA Softball, log on to UTAMavs.com or stay connected to the Mavs on social media. Follow the Mavericks on Twitter @UTAMavsSB, on Instagram @UTAMavsSB and on Facebook at Facebook.com/UTAMavsSB.
