UTA Softball Sweeps At Tucson
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TUCSON, Ariz. – UT Arlington softball sent 27 runs across the plate to sweep its opening day of play in the Wildcat Classic at Hillenbrand Stadium.
Kacey Everett led the charge for the Mavericks (11-5) after knocking two homers against UTEP, including a grand slam. Overall, UTA finished with 34 hits and hit .459 as a team in Day 1.
“I like how at the plate the girls are battling and putting the ball in play,” UT Arlington coach Kristie Fox said. “The girls competed well today. They were put in some tough defensive positions and the pitching staff and our defense did a good job of staying composed.”
Kayla Donaldson and Taylor Simmonds each picked up wins on the day after the pitching staff struck out a combined 10 batters over two games.
The Mavericks continue play in the Wildcat Classic on Saturday against No. 14 Arizona and UC Riverside beginning at 7 p.m. CT. The meeting with Arizona is Fox’s first time competing against her alma
mater, and All-American sister, as a head coach.
Game 1: UT Arlington 15, Bryant University 5
UT Arlington’s lineup found success in pairs as eight of the Mavs’ nine starters had at least two hits in a six-inning run-rule to start the Wildcat Classic.
Britnea Barilli would lead the Mavericks with three runs on a 3-for-4 game from the plate, while seven other hitters had two hits. Mya Anderson and Rebecca Stokes each had two hits to go along with three RBI, while Sandra Mendoza and Nina Villanueva joined Barilli in scoring three runs. Villanueva also had two RBI.
The teams exchanged 10 runs over the course of the third frame after going scoreless through the first two.
UTA was able to take advantage of two errors in the Mavericks’ half to score five runs on five hits. Back-to-back singles to open the inning helped get things started before the first error brought home Kacey Everett on a poor throw by the right fielder. Shelbi Sikes scoredMendoza two batters later on a single up the middle.
Meagan Michele reached on a fielder’s choice in the next at-bat to score another UTA run and Everett would return to the plate again to complete scoring as she had an infield single to bring home Sikes.
A string of hits by Bryant with two outs would tie the game, as Kayla Donaldson replacedSam Montes in the circle midway through the third. Donaldson forceda lineout to end the inning, leaving two on base.
It didn’t take long for the Mavs to return to the lead. UTA responded with a run in the fourth as Anderson singled to center to score Barilli.
Villanueva extended the lead to 8-5 in the fifth with a two-run homer and then the Mavericks crossed seven runs in the sixth to open up its lead to 15-5. The run came on seven hits, including Barilli’s third hit of the game.
Donaldson improved to 5-2 on the season after earning the win. The freshman pitched 3.1 innings, striking out three in the contest. Montes finished with two strikeouts and five earned runs after departing after 2.2 innings pitched in the start.
Game 2: UT Arlington 12, UTEP 6
UT Arlington’s lineup continued its trend of producing, as each hitter in the starting lineup produced at least a hit in the contest.
The Mavericks found themselves trailing 3-1 going into the fifth inning. Entering the night, UTA had not won after trailing after four innings in three attempts, but came up big to complete a comeback over the Miners.
Mya Anderson started off the comeback with her seventh homer of the season, a two run shot with one out. The home run moved Anderson into 11th in UTA single-season history for homers in a season.
UTA reached safely in its next four at bats, including three consecutive hits, to score a run from Rebecca Stokes’ single to center. Kacey Everett then stepped to the plate to knock a two-run homer to right.
Everett came up big again for the Mavericks in the next frame, putting the game away. With the bases loaded, the UTA catcher sent the fourth pitch of the at-bat over the fence for a grand slam.
Sam Montes left two UTEP runners on base in the seventh to earn the win and improve to 3-3. Montes pitched two innings and gave up just one earned run.
