UT Arlington Tops Oklahoma
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NORMAN, Oklahoma – UT Arlington notched its third victory over a Big 12 program this season by beating Oklahoma 6-5 Tuesday night at L. Dale Mitchell Park.
The Mavericks improved to 18-23, avenging a loss to the Sooners earlier this season in Arlington at Globe Life Park. UTA is 3-5 against the Big 12 this season, with one game left against the conference at TCU on May 13.
Ryan Bottger and Eric Tate each had two RBI, UT Arlington’s pitching staff patched together a solid outing. The Mavericks are 4-2 against the Sooners (25-17) in the last six meetings.
UT Arlington put together a two-out rally in the third to get on the board. Matt Shortall doubled to left with two outs and came around tie the game 1-1 on Ryan Bottger’s line-drive single to right.
The Mavericks, wearing their alternate orange jerseys for the second time this season, took a 2-1 lead in the fifth on Shortall’s bloop single scoring Travis Sibley. Pinch hitter John Michael Twichell hit his second home run of the season in the sixth, a solo shot to right giving UTA a 3-1 lead.
Bottger drove home Tate with a liner to center, as the Mavericks tacked on
another run in the seventh. Tate’s two-out double in the eighth scored Miller and Twichell, giving UTA a five-run edge.
UTA starter Jess Amedee nearly maneuvered his way out a jam with runners at the corners with none out in the first. He coaxed a pop up to shallow left and picked the runner off first before a single by Mac James gave OU a 1-0 lead.
Amedee exited with one out in the fourth, giving way to Zach Hobbs. The left hander worked 2.2 innings of scoreless relief. Justin Schnedler pitched the seventh before Chase Weaver ran into trouble in the eighth.
The Sooners scored twice before Jacob Moreland induced an inning-ending double play. OU added another pair in the ninth before Colin Tornberg came on with two outs and two on, and ended it with a pop up to third.
The Mavericks return to Sun Belt Conference action Friday with the start of a three-game series at Troy. UT Arlington is tied for fourth in the Sun Belt at 9-9.
