SACRAMENTO, CA --Junior Xavier Melendez racked up five hits, which ties a program record for hits in a game, to help propel the UT Arlington Mavericks past the Sacramento State Hornets 6-1 on Sunday.
In addition to his five hits, Melendez had a double, a home run and four RBI to lead the Mavericks. Junior Larry Haskins put together a standout performance as well, going 3-for-4 with a double, a walk and two RBI. Junior Jake Martinez also contributed for UT Arlington, putting together three hits in four trips to the plate while adding a double and a walk.
Melendez, a native of Odessa, Texas, became the 37th player to achieve five hits in a game for the Mavericks, and the first since Apr. 19, 2024, when Ryan Ellis slashed five hits against Utah Valley.
Senior Joe Steeber (2-2) got the win for UT Arlington (7-13, 1-2). The right-hander went six innings, giving up one run on five hits, allowing no walks and striking out three. Freshman Tyler Zahradnik also pitched well, going three shutout innings while allowing three hits, walking one and striking out five.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Mavericks got the scoring started early, putting one run on the board in the top of the first inning. UT Arlington got on the board thanks to Haskins' RBI double.
The Hornets failed to push any runs across before the Mavericks offense got back to their scoring ways the next inning. UT Arlington picked up a run on Melendez's one-out solo home run off of junior Ethan Lay, which brought the Mavericks lead to 2-0.
Sacramento State narrowed UT Arlington's lead to 2-1 before the Mavericks stretched the advantage to 3-1 in the sixth inning. The Mavericks added a run on Melendez's two-out RBI double.
UT Arlington held the Hornets scoreless before expanding their lead in the eighth inning. The Mavericks scored twice, with one run coming across on Haskins' 2-out single, bringing the score to 5-1 in favor of UT Arlington.
The Mavericks kept Sacramento State off the board before expanding their lead to 6-1 the following inning. UT Arlington scored once on an RBI single off the bat of Melendez. The score remained 6-1 for the rest of the game, as the Mavericks coasted to the win.
GAME NOTES
» Zahradnik struck out five Hornets hitters.
» The Mavericks power output was led by Melendez, who had two extra base hits in the ballgame.
» Melendez drove in four runs for UT Arlington.
» UT Arlington's highest scoring inning was the eighth, when it pushed two runs across.
» UT Arlington took a 1-0 lead in the top half of the first and didn't surrender that lead for the remainder of the game.
» Steeber put together six innings of one-run ball for the Mavericks.
» The Mavericks out-hit the Hornets at a 14-8 clip.
» The Mavs limited Sacramento State to just 1-for-6 (.167) with runners in scoring position.
» Steeber and Zahradnik faced 37 Sacramento State hitters in the game, allowing 10 ground balls and seven fly balls while striking out eight.
» Melendez led the Mavericks at the plate, going 5-for-5 with a double, a home run and four RBI.
ON DECK
The Mavs will return to The Lone Star State for a midweek matchup against the Baylor Bears in Waco, Texas on Mar. 25.
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