ARLINGTON, TX -- The UT Arlington softball team started conference play with an extra-inning game win over Abilene Christian, 8-12, on Friday afternoon at Poly Wells Field. The victory was highlighted by three home runs in the fifth and sixth innings.
The Mavericks now hold a 12-14 record and a 1-0 record in WAC play.
Sophomore Maddie Furniss (5-4) earned the win in the circle for UTA (12-14), tossing 5.2 innings while allowing five runs on eight hits with six strikeouts and three walks.
At the plate, the Mavericks were led by Kelsey Creech, who went 1-for-3 on the day with a home run and two RBIs. Freshman Valeria Feeney furnished a noteworthy performance as well, going 2-for-2 with a double and a walk. Freshman Kaylee Schweitzer also contributed for UTA putting together two hits in four trips to the plate while adding an RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Mavericks struck first in the top of the third, as Kelsey Creech crossed the plate on a wild pitch to take a 1-0 lead.
Abilene Christian responded in the bottom half of the inning, using three singles to plate five runs and move in front, 5-1.
UTA answered in a big way in the middle innings. The Mavericks launched three home runs between the fifth and sixth innings, including blasts from Marley Neises and Mia McNulty in the fifth to cut the deficit to 5-4, before Kaitlyn Sailor's home run in the sixth gave UTA a 7-5 advantage.
In the top of the seventh, UT Arlington added to its lead as Valeria Feeney advanced to third and Mallory Stone came around to score on a wild pitch, making it 8-6.
The Wildcats battled back in the bottom of the seventh, scoring twice to even the game at 8-8 and force extra innings.
After a scoreless eighth and ninth, the Mavericks broke the silence in the top of the tenth. Neises delivered a two-run home run to reclaim the lead, and Feeney followed with a two-RBI single to extend the advantage to 12-8.
UTA shut the door in the bottom of the tenth, holding ACU scoreless to secure the 12-8 victory.
GAME NOTES
· Mia McNulty is tied for first place in the WAC for home runs with eight.
· Marley Neises earned her fourth and fifth home runs of the season, while Kaitlyn Sailor earned her first.
· Marley Neises led the Mavericks with a standout performance, going 2-for-5 with two home runs and three RBIs, including the go-ahead two-run shot in the tenth inning.
· Kaitlyn Sailor finished 2-for-2 with a home run and three RBIs, helping spark UTA's mid-game comeback.
· Valeria Feeney recorded a multi-hit day, going 2-for-6 with two RBIs, including a key two-RBI single in extra innings.
· Mia McNulty contributed offensively with a two-RBI performance, adding to the Mavericks' power surge.
-- #BuckEm –
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