RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The UT Arlington Mavericks split a Saturday doubleheader at California Baptist before closing out the series with a dominant 19-1 victory Sunday afternoon at James W. Totman Stadium.
UTA fell 6-4 in the opening game of Saturday's doubleheader before rebounding with a 19-1 victory in the nightcap to earn the split and close out the weekend series.
In Sunday's series finale, the Mavericks jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning.
Hank Harp's single brought home
Harold Laracuente, and
Xavier Melendez followed with a single on a fielding error by the center fielder that allowed both Harp and Melendez to score. A balk by CBU starter Nico Urquidi plated
Xander McAfee to make it 2-0.
UTA extended the lead with a five-run second inning highlighted by Melendez's grand slam home run to left field. The Mavericks added seven more runs in the fourth, including a four-run homer by McAfee to left center, and closed out the scoring with five runs in the sixth inning.
Melendez finished 4-for-5 with six RBIs and two runs scored, while Harp went 4-for-4 with four runs scored.
Harold Laracuente added four hits and drove in two runs, and McAfee's two-hit performance included four RBIs.
Noah Fields contributed two doubles and two RBIs for the Mavericks, who finished with 18 hits.
Pitching Profile
Senior right-hander Danny Valadez earned the win after working 5.1 innings and allowing no runs on four hits with five strikeouts. Freshman Landon Murphy and sophomore Hayes Melville combined to finish the game in relief.
On Deck
UT Arlington returns to action Tuesday when the Mavericks travel to Dallas to face Dallas Baptist. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.
-#BuckEm-
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