Baseball
Andy Sauter turned in a sold performance, but it wasn't enough on Sunday. |
MAVS HURT BY EARLY ERRORS, THREE-RUN FIFTH IN 9-1 LOSS AGAINST SFA
May 11, 2008
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - - A couple of early UT Arlington defensive mistakes, a three-run fifth inning and the inability to score against Stephen F. Austin starter Kevin Thomas led to a 9-1 Mavericks loss on Sunday at Jaycees Field in Nacogdoches.
Stephen F. Austin captured the series victory, rebounding from UTA's victory on Saturday in the three-game Southland Conference series.
Already leading 2-1, the Lumberjacks (24-26, 11-15 SLC) sent eight batters to the plate in that fifth inning, collected three of their five hits to that point and took advantage of two walks to lead 5-1. The Mavericks (22-29, 13-14) couldn't answer against Thomas (5-4), who picked up the victory after allowing just four hits in the complete-game victory.
Mavericks right-handed starter Andy Sauter took the loss after one of his best outings in conference play. Sauter (4-3) allowed just six hits in 6 1/3 innings. He struck out seven and allowed four earned runs.
Even with the loss, UTA decides its own fate as it battles for a spot in the SLC Baseball Tournament scheduled May 21-24 in Huntsville. UTA stands 1 ½ games ahead of Stephen F. Austin with three games remaining in the league season. UTA plays host to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in the final series, while Stephen F. Austin must travel to Sam Houston State.
UTA took an early lead Sunday, getting a leadoff homer by designated hitter Steffan Guest.
The Lumberjacks answered right back in the bottom of the second when Kevin Croft led the inning with a fly ball that landed for an error to put a runner on second. He move to third on a passed ball and scored on a wild pitch. One inning later, Stephen F. Austin put the lead runner on with a double. He scored on a pop fly that landed safely between second and right field. That put the Lumberjacks up, 2-1.
From there, the Mavericks couldn't generate enough offense to get back into the game. After its three-run fifth, Stephen F. Austin added two more in the seventh to put the game away.
UTA doesn't have much time to think about the Stephen F. Austin game as the biggest non-conference contest of the season at home looms this week. The Mavericks play host to No. 6 Texas A&M at Clay Gould Ballpark on Tuesday. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m.