OREM, Utah - After dropping game one against Utah Valley, the UT Arlington softball team bounced back with an 18-3 victory on Friday, Mar. 28.
The Mavericks move on to an overall record of 21-12 and 7-4 in conference play.
GAME 1 | Utah Valley 7, UT Arlington 3
Freshman Madi McDonnell (3-2) started and took the loss in the circle for UT Arlington (20-12, 6-4).
At the plate, the Mavericks were led by junior Dee McClarity, who went 1-2 on the day with a home run, a walk and an RBI. Sophomore Vanessa Soza furnished a standout performance at the plate as well, going 1-1 with a double.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Trailing 6-0, the Mavericks first put runs on the board in the fifth inning. McClarity put UTA on the board with a leadoff home run off sophomore Avery Sapp.
The Mavericks deficit expanded to 7-1 before their offense got back on the scoreboard, cutting into that deficit in the seventh inning. UTAÂ managed to push across two runs in the inning, which brought the score to 7-3 in favor of the Wolverines. The ballgame ended with that seventh inning rally falling short.
GAME NOTES
» UT Arlington's highest scoring inning was the seventh, when it pushed two runs across.
» UT Arlington pitchers faced 30 Utah Valley hitters in the game, allowing five ground balls and eight fly balls while striking out five.
» McClarity led the Mavericks at the plate, going 1-2 with a home run and an RBI.
» Utah Valley was led offensively by junior Bailey Marvin, who went 1-3 with a triple and two RBI.
» Sapp led the Wolverines pitching staff, throwing six innings of three-run ball.
GAME 2 | UT Arlington 18, Utah Valley 3
Sophomore Vanessa Soza and sophomore Mia McNulty each collected two extra base hits to help power UTAÂ past the Wolverines.
Senior Emilie Hoelscher (6-4) got the win for UT Arlington (21-12, 7-4). The left-hander went four innings, giving up three runs, all of them earned, on six hits, allowing one walk and striking out one. Senior Jessica Adams also pitched well, going three shutout innings while allowing two hits, walking none and striking out four.
McNulty's two extra base hits were the highlight of a 3-4 day, and included a double, a home run and three RBI. Soza made her contribution with a double, a triple, a walk and an RBI, part of a 2-4 performance at the plate. Sophomore Jade Moreno also chipped in for the Mavericks, putting together one hit in one trip to the plate while adding a home run and three RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Mavericks got on the board immediately, starting their scoring with one run in the top of the first inning. UTAÂ got an RBI single from freshman Talia Maldonado, scoring McNulty from third base.
The Mavs lost the lead they built in the first, but got back on the board in the second trailing 2-1. UTA hit two home runs in the inning on the way to pushing four runs across. which brought the score to 5-2 in favor of the Mavericks.
Utah Valley narrowed UTA's lead to 5-3 before the Mavericks stretched the advantage to 8-3 in the fourth inning. Sophomore Kaitlyn Sailor's bases-clearing double drove in all three runs for the Mavericks.
UTAÂ kept the Wolverines without a run before building on their lead in the sixth inning. The Mavericks scored twice on junior Dee McClarity's two-run homer, bringing the score to 10-3 in favor of UT Arlington.
The Mavericks kept Utah Valley scoreless before building on their lead to 18-3 the following inning. The Maverick offense piled up eight runs, highlighted by a three-run home run off the bat of Moreno. The score remained 18-3 for the rest of the game, as the Mavericks coasted to the win.
GAME NOTES
» McNulty picked up three base knocks in the game for UT Arlington.
» The Mavericks had both Soza and McNulty smack multiple extra-base hits in the ballgame.
» Every UT Arlington starter reached base safely in the win.
» UT Arlington's highest scoring inning was the seventh, when it pushed eight runs across.
» The Mavericks had control of the rest of the game after moving ahead of the Wolverines 5-3 in the top of the second.
» Four Mavericks had multiple hits in the ballgame.
» UT Arlington hitters hit four home runs in the ballgame.
» The Mavericks had a total of 15 hits.
» The Mavericks out-hit the Wolverines at a 15-8 clip.
» UT Arlington went 8-17 (.471) with runners in scoring position.
» UT Arlington pitchers faced 29 Utah Valley hitters in the game, allowing six ground balls and nine fly balls while striking out five.
» The Mavericks drew six walks from Utah Valley pitching.
» McNulty led the Mavericks at the plate, going 3-4 with a double, a home run and three RBI.
» Utah Valley was led offensively by junior Britney Moreno, who went 3-4.
ON DECK
UTA will take on UVU for the series finale on Saturday, Mar. 28 with the first pitch set for 1 p.m. CT.
-- #BuckEm –
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