ARLINGTON– The UT Arlington softball team split its doubleheader with California Baptist Friday as the Mavericks went head-to-head with the Lancers in two high-scoring affairs from Allan Saxe Field.
Across both games, UTA compiled a total of 18 runs off 26 hits – making those 100 runs scored so far this season. Now, the Mavericks are batting .292 as a team with five players batting .300 or higher.
UTA will look to clinch its first conference series of the season with an 11 a.m. start on Saturday, Mar. 16. Due to incoming inclement weather, the game's previous start time of noon has caused for a shift in schedule.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE: vs. California Baptist (L, 12-7)
Despite getting off to a 7-0 run by the third inning, the Mavericks' momentum slowed down as the team fell to the Lancers with a final score of 12-7.
Sophomore
Marley Neises belted her second home run of the season – a three-run shot - as the utility led UTA offensively with a 3-4 performance at the plate.
Nikki Donahue (2-4),
Jessica Adams (2-4) and
Lindsey Franklin (2-4, 2 RBI) came away with multi-hit efforts as
Camille Corona (1-4),
Alaina Hampton (1-2),
Zaia Castruita (1-1) and
Morgan Westbrook (1-3, 1 RBI) contributed with one hit apiece.
Franklin collected her fourth long ball of the year with a line drive over the center field wall, making that RBI #17 and 18 overall.
Head coach
Kara Dill rotated three pitchers as senior
Gracie Bumpurs earned her eighth start in the circle so far this season. With
Emilie Hoelscher making a brief two-out appearance, freshman
Jade Moreno came into close things out.
Unfortunately, Moreno allowed eight earned runs off 10 hits, taking the loss.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE: vs. California Baptist (W, 11-3) 6 Innings
UTA's offense sparked 12 hits in game two of Friday's doubleheader as junior
Nicole Hill tabbed a perfect 3-3 performance – her first multi-hit game of the 2024 season.
Three Mavericks notched two hits each as Corona (2-4, 3 RBI), Adams (2-4, 3 RBI) and Neises (2-3, 2 RBI) showcased their bats with multiple RBI each.
Neises recorded her second home run of the night and third overall as the sophomore has settled in nicely in Dill's lineup, raising her season batting average to .303.
Franklin (1-3, 1 RBI), Donahue (1-4, 2 RBI) and
Kaylee Cavazos (1-3) shared the credit of UTA's double-digit total.
Left-handed pitcher
Abi Gutierrez earned the start on the mound for the Mavericks as she went on to toss two innings before junior Adams threw the remainder of the game.
The righty was credited with her fourth win of the year after limiting the Lancers to two hits and no earned runs.
ON DECK
The Mavericks will conclude its WAC opener with the final game of the series on Saturday, Mar. 16 from Allan Saxe Field.
-- #BuckEm --
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