In the recent UT Arlington softball posts, I have mentioned the downward trend the team is on as the season comes to a close. The trend did not reverse itself this past weekend in the season finale and senior day at Allan Saxe Field.
Heading into the series, UTA was 23-22. They are hoping for their first winning season since 2019. They were playing a team tied with them in the standings at their own friendly confines. They were playing for their seniors at home. All the pieces were there for a bump heading to the Western Athletic Conference tournament in Riverside California.
Coming into this weekend, UTA had won two of its last 12 games. After climbing to 21-10 and 6-3 in the WAC, the Mavericks looked like they were on pace for their best season in a while. But a sweep at the hands of Grand Canyon and series losses to Utah Valley, California Baptist, Southern Utah and now Seattle have put that in jeopardy
UTA will need to go at least 3-2 in the conference tournament for that winning record or split to avoid a losing season. There's an additional impediment that the other teams aren't facing to reach that goal.
But first, to recap this weekend, the start looked good. The ceremony honoring Allan Saxe did seem to have a positive effect on UTA. To start the series, each team scored one in the first. Seattle got one more in the second before UTA responded in the third with one of their own.
Sixth-year pitcher Emilie Hoelscher locked down inning after inning as UTA plated two more in the fifth inning and another run in the sixth. The insurance runs were needed as the Redhawks plated two in their half of the seventh. With the tying run at third base via a triple that scored those two runs, Hoelscher induced a foul out to end the game and take a 5-4 win.
Sophomore catcher Mia McNulty and Freshman shortstop Talia Maldonado each hit a homer, part of a three-RBI game for McNulty. Hoelscher got her ninth win of the year.
The doubleheader on Saturday would prove to be less kind, both extra inning losses. In the first game, Seattle had a run each in the first and fourth inning for a 2-0 lead. The Mavericks got a leadoff home run from McNulty in the seventh inning. The Redhawks walked the bases loaded. With no outs, Head Coach Kara Dill elected to use a sacrifice bunt to get the tying run across. With two runners in scoring position, the Mavs struck out, then flied out to send the game to extras.
After a scoreless eighth saw both teams go 1-2-3, the Redhawks got a leadoff single and hit a fielder's choice to get the lead in the ninth. The Mavs got a one-out single in their half but couldn't get a runner to second in the 3-2 loss.
Senior pitcher Jessica Adams had the hard luck loss, as she gave up three runs, only one earned in all nine innings of work.
In the rubber match, the Mavericks scored four in the fifth inning to take a 4-1 lead. A double, a single, four walks and a fielding error did the damage for UTA. The scoring streak could have been worse for Seattle, but UTA left the bases loaded after a strikeout and ground out. In the next half inning, the Redhawks used a double, three singles and a walk to tie the game. It could also have been worse for UTA, but Junior centerfielder Marley Neises threw the go-ahead run out at home to end the frame.
In the bottom of the seventh, UTA again went to the dugout with the bases loaded to send the game back to extra innings. If one just looks at the final score, 10-4, extra innings likely wouldn't have been a thought. The Redhawks exploded for six runs in the eighth when SU got four singles, a double, a fielding error and a throwing one to break open the game and series. The Mavs just got a one-out single end the regular season.
To open the WAC tournament, UTA opens against the host, California Baptist. The Mavericks won the first game in Riverside, 4-2, but lost the remaining two: 10-2 in six innings and 2-1. Hoelscher won the first game by giving up two runs in six innings. Freshman pitcher Kynlee Bowlin took the loss in the second while Sophomore pitcher Abi Gutierrez gave up two runs in four innings for the loss in game three. Senior pitcher Morgan McConnell picked up the two wins for CBU.
The offense wasn't productive in those three games as two Mavericks had two runs batted in to lead the team in that series.
The defense committed no errors in the win but committed two errors in one of the losses. Like most teams in the postseason, they'll need to eliminate the defensive miscues for a better shot at a favorable outcome.
CBU is fifth in the WAC in batting average, sixth in runs scored, second in hits, ninth in doubles and fifth in home runs. UTA is eighth, fifth, eighth, third and third respectively. Each offense has a strength that the other doesn't have.
Meanwhile, the Lancers are fourth in team ERA, sixth in strikeouts, seventh in hits allowed and fifth in walks. The Mavs are fifth, eighth, eighth and second in the same categories.
On defense, the Lancers are first in fielding percentage, first in errors committed (the least amount in the WAC) and third in double plays logged while their WAC tourney counterparts are fifth, fifth and first.
These teams are evenly matched, but has a strength that they will want to exercise. The game is likely to be close and will come down to a play or two. First pitch is Wednesday at noon local time.
Another wrinkle, the WAC is a single elimination in the first round. Fifth-seed Abilene Christian takes on eighth-seed Utah Valley. One of those two teams and either UTA or CBU will not play another game with the loss. To get a winning season, UTA has to beat CBU at their place. If UTA doesn't succeed, it will be one of the worst endings to a season in program history.
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