ARLINGTON – The UT Arlington Maverick baseball team defeated the Boston College Eagles 11-6 after a dominant display of pitching from Zach Norris. On the offensive side of the ball, the Mavericks scored their most runs in a game this season, with all 11 runs scoring at the end of the 6th inning.
 
ZACH'S SECRET STUFF
Getting the start for the day, Zach Norris tossed 1.1 innings before even getting his first ring up. In the top of the 2nd, Norris allowed a single up the right side and then turned on a switch that could not be turned off. The Paris, Texas native struck out the next three Eagles in a row to get out of the inning unscathed. In the 3rd inning, Norris struck out two batters to draw his total strikeouts to 5. His hitless streak was broken in the top of the 4th after allowing a single in his first batter faced, however, that didn't shake up Norris as he then struck out the next 3 batters again to escape the inning untouched, totaling his strikeouts to 8 after 4 innings. 
 
In the 5th inning, Norris continued his dominance by forcing a groundout to the lead-off man and struck out the next two batters up to increase his total to 10. In the 6th inning, Norris forced the Eagles to once again falter at the plate, forcing two groundouts and a flyout. Heading to the top of the 7th, his quest for a shutout ended after a homerun shot was given up to the lead-off man, however, Norris redeemed himself by striking out the next three batters up to draw his total to 13 strikeouts on the day. After the 7th, Norris was relieved for freshman Nicholas Robb. This season, Norris has been credited with 2 wins as a starter in two appearances, last season, Norris only started 3 games, and was credited with a win twice.
  
His 13 strikeouts shattered his previous game high by 7, and his 17 strikeouts throughout 2 games this season are more than half of his total strikeouts last season, where he fanned 34 batters in 17 appearances. He is currently on pace for 145 strikeouts on the season, which would shatter the school record, set by Carlos Tavera in 2021, by 28 Ks.

OFFENSIVE POWER
The Mavs got off to a fast start offensively thanks to a 2nd-inning bomb from Garrison Berkley to help the Mavs take the early 3-0 lead. After a slow 3rd and 4th inning, the offense picked right back up in the 5th with an RBI double from Ryan Ellis to bring home Parker Airhart, who reached base after a walk to increase the lead to 4-0. After a balk by the Eagles that sent Ellis to third with just 0 outs, Tyce Armstrong was walked to put runners at the corners. Jordan Medellin laid down a SAC bunt to plate Ellis which grew the lead to 5.
 
Heading into the bottom of the 6th inning, the Mavs put the pedal to the metal and scored 3 quick runs thanks to a two-run double from Tyson Pointer and a SAC fly from Tyce Armstrong. With the Mavs leading 8-0, and with just one out on the board due to Armstrong's sacrifice RBI, a walk to Jordan Medellin loaded the bases up for Tate Bethel. After watching a fastball go by him in the bottom of the zone, Bethel then ripped a single through the left infield to plate Parker Airhart and Ryan Ellis to grow the Mavs lead to 10. 
 
After Cade Sumbler checked into the game as a pinch hitter, the Midlothian, Texas native popped a ball deep enough to center field to plate Jordan Medellin with a SAC fly since Medellin advanced to third due to a wild pitch. After 6 innings of play, the Mavs plated 11 runs, more than it's scored in a game so far in the early season.
 
KEEP THE LEAD
Nicholas Robb, the freshman, made his second appearance on the season in the 8th inning with an 11-1 lead. The Keller, Texas native struggled to contain Boston College as they scored 5 runs and 5 hits quickly to turn an 10-run lead to an 11-6 lead. However, Robb stayed cool, calm and collected and recorded a strikeout, along with two groundouts before finishing the inning. Collin Horton checked into the game in the 9th inning and went straight to battle with a six-pitch pop fly to record the first out of the inning. Horton then struck out the second batter he faced before allowing a hit on a 0-2 count. For the final out, the transfer from New Orleans forced a groundout to finish the game with just 19 pitches thrown.  
 
ON DECK
The Mavs will play game two of the series agaisnt Boston College at Clay Gould Ballpark tomorrow at 2 p.m.
 
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