Box Score HUNTSVILLE, Texas – UT Arlington built an early lead behind a three-run third inning but was unable to hold it late, falling 9–5 to Sam Houston on Tuesday night at Don Sanders Stadium.
The Mavericks jumped in front on a two-run home run from
Xavier Melendez in the third and added single runs in the sixth and eighth, but the Bearkats rallied with a six-run seventh inning to take control.
UTA opened the scoring in the third when
Brayden Simmons drew a walk and
Clark Springs executed a sacrifice bunt to move him into scoring position.
Harold Laracuente followed with an RBI single to right, and Melendez then drilled a two-run homer—his second of the season—to push the Mavericks' lead to 3–0.
Sam Houston answered with a run in the third and another in the fifth before UTA extended its advantage in the sixth. Melendez singled up the middle to start the frame, later scoring on a wild pitch to make it 4–2. After the Bearkats trimmed the deficit again,
Caylon Dygert launched a solo home run to deep left in the eighth to give the Mavericks their fifth run of the night.
Sam Houston's decisive push came in the bottom of the seventh, when the Bearkats used three doubles, a ground-rule double and a sacrifice fly as part of a six-run inning to swing the game in their favor.
Melendez finished the night with two hits, including the two-run home run, and reached base multiple times, extending his hitting streak to 11 games and his reached-base streak to 12 consecutive contests. Dygert added a late homer, while Springs doubled and Laracuente contributed the early RBI single.
Alex Bustamante also stole a base after entering as a pinch runner.
Pitching Profile
- Dylan Skolfield started for UT Arlington and worked 2.1 innings, allowing one run on two hits with one strikeout.
- Landon Murphy followed with 1.2 innings of relief, surrendering one run on two hits while striking out one.
- Nick Perry covered 2.0 innings and was charged with two runs on two hits with one strikeout before Jacob Gabler entered in the seventh and allowed four runs on three hits in 0.1 innings.
- Jack Barr recorded two outs and was charged with one run on one hit, and Hayes Melville finished the night with a scoreless inning, working around two walks to record the final three outs.
On Deck
UT Arlington returns home this weekend to host Villanova for a three-game series at Clay Gould Ballpark, beginning Friday at 6 p.m. on March 27.
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