Much Needed Weekend

The theme of the 2025 UT Arlington baseball team has been one of near misses. This past weekend did not exhibit any of the traits I have observed this season. It was one of the more dominant weekends this year.

In the last post regarding baseball, I had the following quote:

Eight one-run losses, two losses by two runs and three losses by three account for 13 of UTA's  24 losses.

Counting the week after that post, but prior to this weekend, that number had grown to nine one-run losses and three two-run losses. UTA lost by one run to Grand Canyon and had a two-run setback to Texas Christian in a midweek loss.

Ultimately, the Mavericks lost the road series to Grand Canyon, but salvaged the three-game set with a 17-5 shellacking over the home team. Like much of the season, UTA was close to a better weekend, but lost game one on Friday 8-7.

The Mavericks had a brief 3-2 lead after the top of the second but battled back to tie the game at seven after the top of the ninth with a two-run single from Junior first baseman Xavier Melendez. However, Senior pitcher reliever Caden Noah recorded one out but gave up an uncharacteristic walk and two hit-by-pitches before GCU hit a game-winning single.

The offense was lacking in game two as UTA took another brief lead, 1-0 after the top of the fourth concluded. Like game one, the Mavericks could not get a shut-down inning and never lead or tied the game after that.

Game three was an offensive showcase. The Mavericks scored four runs three times and saw the ninth inning lead to three more runs. All five of the Antelope runs came in the sixth inning. Junior pitcher Joe Garcia pitched three scoreless innings in relief to seal the deal for UTA.

In the TCU game, the pitching staff did a good enough job to win. They gave up a collective three runs. However, in a hit-or-miss offense the last few games, UTA was able to get only a run on the offensive end. The Mavs went 1-2-3 in the first, third, fourth, sixth and eighth inning. A hit-by-pitch accounted for the only base runner in the second inning and a walk was it for the fifth. The Mavs got their first hit in the seventh.

It was a decent pitching performance overall against a 33-15 TCU squad. Four Maverick pitchers went a full inning at least without a run scored and a fifth had a scoreless third. Two Mavericks gave up a run in a full inning and the third run came in two-thirds work.

UTA hasn't won the series against TCU since a one-game win in the COVID-shortened 2020 season. You have to go back to 2004 when UTA won two games to TCU's one for a multi-game series win. There have been a couple of 1-1 series ties, but a win on Tuesday would have broken that streak.

At 14-27, but a better 6-9 in the Western Athletic Conference, that set the stage for another big weekend. On Friday, the Utah Valley Wolverines were the top team in the WAC at 11-5. It was a pivotal series in Arlington one way or another.

In a twist no one but the most optimistic fans saw coming, UTA swept the Wolverines and turned the WAC on its head. A weather-related decision postponed the Friday opener to a Saturday doubleheader. UTA run-ruled UVU 16-6 in eight innings to start, followed by a 14-8 win in the nightcap. The Mavs weren't content with just a series win and swept the former conference leaders 7-4 on Sunday.

UTA trailed 4-0 after four innings in game one but scored in every inning that followed. Four home runs, two doubles and a singled accounted for all the Mav runs. Freshman second baseman Cade Dodson and Junior centerfielder Xander McAfee had three RBI each while Sophomore pitcher Caylon Dygert got the win with 6.2 innings pitched and three earned runs given up.

In game two, UTA scored three in the first, gave up four in the second before scoring two in the bottom half, then scored an additional six in the third as they coasted to a 14-8 win. Sophomore pitcher Nicholas Robb picked up his third win of the year with five earned runs in six innings. Senior reliever Rhys Stevens went 1.1 innings scoreless to seal the win. Three was the magic number again on offense as Junior Tyce Armstrong, playing in rightfield and Freshman shortstop Austin Phillips had three RBI each.

Game three was a little tighter, but still a Maverick win. Utah Valley scored the first three in the top of the fourth before UTA grabbed two in the bottom half. UVU got its fourth and final in the sixth and UTA answered with three to take the lead. The Mavs got two in the seventh for the final tally. Noah redeemed himself with two 1-2-3 innings in the seventh and eighth. In the ninth, he flirted with disaster as two Wolverines made it to base with one out. Noah then pitched UVU into a foul out and a strikeout to end the threat. 

Senior pitcher Joe Steeber started and went 5.1 innings in a no decision. Stevens got the win in relief and Noah got his fourth save of the year. Head Coach Mike Trapasso inserted Friday starter Dygert into the lineup as a designated hitter and he responded with three RPI on 2-4 hitting, both doubles. He also scored a run.

With the sweep, UTA moved to 9-9 in conference play and sits in a tie for fifth with California Baptist, who owns the tiebreaker thanks to a 2-1 series win in Arlington. The Mavericks are a game up on Tarleton, who UTA swept in Stephenville. 

Ahead of the Mavericks in the standings, coupled with their series against that team in parenthesis, are 12-6 Sacramento State (1-2), 13-8 GCU (1-2), 11-7 Abilene Christian (0-3) and 12-9 UVU (3-0). Utah Tech and Seattle bring up the rear of the WAC at 5-13.

UTA has its final midweek battle against Dallas Baptist tonight. UTA lost earlier in the season 14-4 in seven innings and haven't beaten the Patriots since 2020, the only win in nine tries. After that, they travel to Saint George for a three-game set against the Trailblazers. They close the season at home the weekend after versus the Redhawks.

UTA's offense has averaged near 11 and a half runs in their last five games and near nine and a half the last two weeks. If the offense continues, UTA has a massive chance to move up considerably in the standings. The pitching is still a weak spot, particularly when looking at depth. They sport a 5.97 earned run average but they have moved up to fourth in the WAC.

UTA is poised to make a run in May, the best time to do it. Will they actually do so, or will it be like a lot of the season, a near miss? Either way, it should be a fun journey to end the season.