UTA Softball Sweeps Central Arkansas
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ARLINGTON, Texas – A no-hitter overshadowed records falling as UT Arlington swept Central Arkansas on Wednesday at Allan Saxe Field in nonconference action.
Sophomore Sam Montes was all but perfect for the Mavericks in Game 1, tossing the first no-hitter for UTA since Teri Lyles in 2013. Montes (12-10) gave up a walk in the first inning and did not allow another baserunner in the 8-0, five-inning, run-rule.
“I am really excited,” Montes said. “If it wasn’t for Britnea Barilli and Haley Henson making those amazing plays I would of not had that no- hitter. I would put the credit on them. Us together helped me get that no-hitter”
Montes picked up her first-career save in Game 2 as the Mavericks rallied to win 2-1 in the finale.
“Sam did a great job,” UT Arlington coach Kristie Fox said. “She is a competitor. We like to give her the ball and see what she can do. The defense did a really good job playing behind her and with the wind blowing in we got a lot of pops and made a lot of plays.”
Shadowed by the performance of Montes in the circle, senior Nina Villanueva broke UTA’s all-time record for runs in a season. Villanueva scored two runs in the doubleheader to surpass Katie Jones’ 44 in 2007.
“Nina has done a lot since she has been here,” Fox said. “She has been here three years and I can only imagine what she could do with four. She has gone through a lot, has had her ups and
downs, and has battled through all of it.”
Villanueva’s run in Game 2 tied the game in the sixth as Shelbi Sikes doubled with two outs.
“It is awesome,” Villanueva said. “It was a great team win to come out here and get that. Sandra Mendoza did really well also. I think we definitely help each other because we are competitive. We are competitive with each other and I think it helps the team.”
The UTA shortstop finished with two hits on the day.
Mendoza crossed the plate twice in Game 1 as she was 2-for-3 at the plate. Mendoza is tied with Jones for second in single-season history.
Junior Mya Anderson hit her second grand slam of the season in Game 1 as part of a six-run outburst for the Mavs in the fourth. Anderson’s 10th homer of the season tied her for seventh in single-season history. She is one behind teammate Meagan Michele in fifth.
The Mavericks return to Sun Belt action on Saturday at ULM. First pitch of the three-game series is scheduled for 4 p.m.
