ABILENE, Texas – Abilene Christian scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning to defeat UT Arlington 9-8 on Saturday afternoon at Crutcher Scott Field at Bullock Brothers Ballpark, evening the series at one game apiece.

The Mavericks took an early 3-0 lead in the third inning. Austin Phillips led off with a double and scored on Xavier Melendez's RBI single. Xander McAfee followed with a two-run double down the left field line, plating Hank Harp and Melendez to give UTA a three-run cushion.

Abilene Christian answered with three runs in the fourth on Brady Ladusau's two-run home run, tying the game at 3-3.

The Mavericks added a run in the fifth when Clark Springs drove in Melendez with a single, pushing the lead to 4-3. But the Wildcats erupted for four runs in the sixth inning to take a 7-4 advantage, highlighted by JT Thompson's two-run single and Brady Gray's two-run base hit.

UTA mounted a rally in the eighth, scoring four runs to reclaim the lead at 8-7. Caylon Dygert launched a solo home run to left field, his third of the season, to start the inning. The Mavericks added three more runs on RBI hits from Harp, Melendez and McAfee to move ahead.

Abilene Christian tied the game in the bottom of the eighth when Gray doubled home Thompson, sending the contest to extra innings.

In the 10th, Thompson singled and advanced to second on a sacrifice before Reese Borho delivered a walk-off single to right field, scoring Thompson from second base to end the game.

McAfee paced the UTA offense with a 3-for-5 performance, collecting three doubles and scoring three runs. Melendez went 3-for-6 with two RBIs, while Dygert, Phillips and Springs each recorded two hits. The Mavericks finished with 14 hits but left 11 runners on base.

PITCHING PROFILE
Kyle Winkler worked 5.2 innings, allowing four runs on four hits with seven strikeouts and no walks. Landon Murphy pitched 1.1 innings, giving up one run on three hits with one strikeout. Hayes Melville tossed 1.0 inning, allowing one run on one hit with one walk and one strikeout. Jack Barr was charged with the loss, working 1.1 innings and surrendering one run on three hits with two walks and one strikeout.

ON DECK
The Mavericks and Wildcats conclude the series Sunday at 1 p.m. in the rubber match. The game is available on ESPN+. FOLLOW THE MAVS
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