SAN ANTONIO - The UT Arlington softball team picked up its first pair of wins of the 2025 season as the Mavericks defeated Prairie View A&M and Incarnate Word on Friday, Feb. 7 from H-E-B Field.

Junior Kailee Bautista led the way in the box against the Panthers after tabbing her first multi-hit game with three RBI - courtesy of a three-run bomb to center field. Kaitlyn Sailor (2-3) and Nicole Hill (2-3) also logged two hits a piece, aiding to UTA's seven-hit total. Freshman Talia Maldonado put the Mavs on the board with a sacrifice fly which marked the first RBI for the Corpus Christi native.

Sixth year Emilie Hoelscher had a strong start to the new year as the left-handed pitcher tossed her first complete game, coming away with four strike outs. The Texas product snagged the first win in the circle for UTA as it marked the second in her career as a Maverick.

The Mavericks came out hot against UIW and ultimately came out on top, pushing five runs off nine hits. Bautista capped the game with another 2-3 performance at the plate as the catcher was joined by Hill who collected a perfect 3-3 outing. Transfer Elizabeth Baylor went yard for the first time this season with a two-run shot to left field that ignited a spark in UTA's lineup.

In the circle, freshman Madi McDonnell made her collegiate debut as she went on to throw just over two innings. The righty allowed two earned runs off four hits before fellow freshman Jaycee Knighton entered the game. Knighton tossed three innings and limited the Cardinal offense to just one run. Senior Jessica Adams came in to close things out as she earned her first save of the season and Knighton with the win.

ON DECK
The Mavs will take on Eastern Illinois and Prairie View A&M on Saturday, Feb. 8 as part of day two of Incarnate Word's three-day tournament.