What about Softball?

Yesterday, I mentioned the UT Arlington baseball team opened conference play this weekend. The softballers, whose season starts a week earlier, are in the middle of Western Athletic Conference play. The season has been interesting, but not the rollercoaster ride of their male diamond counterparts.

At 15-17 on the year, the team has done well in some games, then dropped the ball, intended figuratively, in other games. But, the important record, 4-2 in WAC play is good.

At 192 in RPI, UTA is fifth out of the seven team conference race. UTA beat Abilene Christian at their place 2-1 to start conference play, winning the first two before dropping the rubber match. That formula was repeated in Arlington against Tarleton State. ACU is well below UTA in the RPI rankings currently at 235, compared to UTA’s 192. The Texans, however, are 154. That is a good series win.

Like in years past, this team has strengths and weaknesses. I don’t know what it is, but pitching has been problematic. California Baptist leads the conference with a 3.02 earned run average. Utah Valley is under five and in second place. Southern Utah and TSU are third and fourth with ERA’s in the five. UTA is fifth at 6.52. Utah Tech is a quarter of a run behind and poor ACU is last in the nine’s.

The Confusing Non-Conference

The UT Arlington baseball team begins Western Athletic Conference play this weekend and the results have been mixed to say the least. In fact, this may be the most opposite of seasons I have ever seen in my two and a half decades plus of following UTA Mavericks.

At 11-16, the record certainly reflects a year that has been less than stellar, but it's those weird dichotomies that make this one a headscratcher. To enter into the record: 12 times on the year, UTA has scored three runs or less. They are 1-11 in those games, understandably so. But in games where they scored just one more run, they are 2-2. UTA has scored double digit runs six times, all wins. Proving they can score. There are some weird inconsistencies, as caliber of opponent seems to matter little, as I'll get into shortly.

The pitching staff has allowed three runs or less six times. While not as numerous as the 12 times they scored three or less, that is still a wide difference in runs from offense to defense. Their record in that category is 5-1. When they've allowed exactly four runs, they are 0-2. They have given up double digit runs six times, a 1-5 record.

But the real odd one to me that I just can't explain is a head scratcher to everyone.