PHOENIX, Ariz. --Senior Tate Bethel put together a brilliant showing at the plate Sunday, hitting two homers to help power the UT Arlington Mavericks over the Grand Canyon Antelopes 17-5.
Senior Joe Steeber (4-3) started on the mound and picked up the win for UT Arlington (14-26, 6-9). The right-hander went six innings, giving up five runs, all of them earned, on nine hits, allowing no walks and striking out three. Junior Anthony Garcia also made an impact on the mound for the Mavericks, throwing three shutout innings while allowing no hits, with one walk and three strikeouts.
Bethel went 2-for-5 at the plate, supplementing his two home runs with two RBIs. Freshman Cade Dodson added to Bethel's awesome power-hitting performance by going 2-for-5 with a home run and three RBI along with one walk. Sophomore Caylon Dygert also chipped in for the Mavericks, going 1-for-2 with a home run, three walks and two RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Mavericks put runs on the scoreboard first, starting the scoring in the second inning. UT Arlington hit two home runs in the inning on the way to scoring four runs.
The Antelopes failed to push any runs across before the Mavericks built on their lead in the fifth inning. UT Arlington pushed two runs across on a two-run double off the bat of junior Xavier Melendez that brought home senior Maxwell Mims and Dodson, which brought the score to 6-0 in favor of the Mavericks.
UT Arlington held Grand Canyon without a run before building their lead to 10-0 the following inning. The Mavericks hit two home runs in the inning on the way to scoring four runs.
The Antelopes fought back, closing the gap to 10-5 until UT Arlington added some insurance in the eighth. The Mavericks scored four runs in the inning, highlighted by a three-run double off the bat of sophomore Xander McAfee, bringing the UT Arlington advantage to 14-5.
The Mavericks kept Grand Canyon off the board before building on their lead to 17-5 the following inning. UT Arlington scored three runs, all of them coming on a three-run homer off the bat of Dodson, scoring junior Larry Haskins and Dygert. The score remained 17-5 for the rest of the game, as the Mavericks coasted to the win.
GAME NOTES
» The Mavericks got two home runs off the bat of Bethel.
» UT Arlington got three-hit games from both Haskins and Melendez.
» Melendez drove in four runs for UT Arlington.
» Every UT Arlington starter reached base safely in the win.
» UT Arlington's highest scoring inning was the eighth, when it pushed four runs across.
» The Mavericks had control of the rest of the game after jumping ahead of the Antelopes 4-0 in the top of the second.
» Five Mavericks had multiple hits in the ballgame.
» UT Arlington hitters hit five dingers in the ballgame.
» The Mavericks had a total of 15 hits.
» The Mavericks out-hit the Antelopes at a 15-9 clip.
» UTA went 7-for-14 (.500) with runners in scoring position.
» Maverick pitchers faced 37 Grand Canyon hitters in the game, allowing nine ground balls and 12 fly balls while striking out six.
» The Mavericks drew five walks from Grand Canyon pitching.
ON DECK
The Mavs will return to DFW for a five-game stretch starting with a visit to Lupton Field to play the TCU Horned Frogs on Tuesday, Apr. 29 at 6 pm. Then, the Mavs will host the Utah Valley Wolverines in a conference series from May 2-4 before hosting DBU in the next midweek matchup, on May 6.
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