Box Score (PDF)

ARLINGTON, Texas – UT Arlington plated five runs in the bottom of the first inning en route to a 9-7 series-clinching win over the University of South Alabama baseball team Saturday at Clay Gould Ballpark.

UTA (18-10, 6-2 Sun Belt) sent 10 batters to the plate in the first inning, and scored five runs on four hits. The Jaguars rallied to cut their deficit to one run at 6-5 in the top of the seventh inning, but the Mavericks added three additional runs over the final two innings to secure the series.

USA (12-13, 3-5 Sun Belt) will return to action Sunday when it faces UT Arlington in the series finale at 1 p.m. at Clay Gould Ballpark.

GAME FACTS
- UTA loaded the bases in the bottom of the first on a leadoff single by Connor Aube, and consecutive one-out walks by Andrew Miller and Anthony Dominguez. Zac Cook followed with a two-run single through the right side of the infield for a 2-0 Maverick lead. Josh Minjarez then laced an RBI single to left field for a 3-0 UTA advantage. Boone Montgomery reached on a two-out hit by pitch to load the bases for Aaron Funk, who delivered a two-run single to center field to extend the UTA lead to 5-0.
- USA answered in the top of the second inning on a two-out RBI single to left field by Brandon Auerbach that scored Michael Sandle, who singled earlier in the frame, to cut the UTA lead to 5-1.
- The Jags cut the UTA lead to 5-2 in the top of the fourth when Wells Davis lifted a 2-2 pitch from UTA right-hander Ka'ikepono Anderson over the left-center field wall for a solo home run to lead off the inning.
- UTA loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth on a one-out single by Minjarez, two-out single from Montgomery and a walk by Funk. Aube followed with a walk to score Minjarez for a 6-2 UTA lead.
- The Jags loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the seventh on a leadoff walk by Auerbach, single from Ethan Wilson and a walk by Eddie Paparella. Felix Aberouette followed with a pinch-hit sacrifice fly to center field to score Auerbach and cut the UTA lead in half at 6-3. Davis then delivered a two-out RBI single through the right side of the infield to score Wilson and cut the Maverick lead to 6-4. Santi Montiel followed with an RBI single to right field to plate Paparella and cut the UTA advantage to 6-5.
- The Mavericks answered in the bottom of the seventh on a pair of two-out RBI doubles by Aube and Olson for an 8-5 lead.
- USA responded to cut the UTA lead to 8-7 in the top of the eighth inning on a one-out, two-run single back up the middle by Paparella.
- The Mavericks took a 9-7 lead in the bottom of the eighth inning on a one-out RBI double off the left field wall by Minjarez.
- The Jags put the tying run on base in the top of the ninth when Sandle reached on a throwing error by Montgomery on a grounder to third, and Shell followed with a walk. But UTA right-hander Andrew Gross struck out Auerbach to end the game.

NOTES
- Davis extended his on-base streak to five games with a leadoff solo home run in the top of the fourth inning.
- Right-hander Tyler Perez tossed a season-high four innings, and struck out a career-high six batters against two walks while allowing one run on four hits.
- Montiel extended his on-base streak to 10 games with an RBI single in the top of the seventh inning.
- Anderson (5-2) allowed two runs on five hits with two strikeouts against four walks in six innings pitched to earn the win.
- Jaguar right-hander Drake Nightengale (2-2) allowed five runs on four hits with one strikeouts and a pair of walks in two-thirds of an inning in the loss.
- Paparella recorded his first hit of the 2019 season, which came in the form of a two-run single in the top of the eighth inning.
- The loss marked the Jaguars' fourth straight at UTA dating back to 2015.

QUOTES
Head Coach Mark Calvi
- On the loss:
"We dug too big of a hole for ourselves early on, but we fought all game long and got back into it. We just didn't quite do enough in all three phases today, but I'm proud of the way our guys fought."

- On tomorrow's series finale:
"We need to get off to a good start, obviously. It's all about pitching and defense. Momentum is all about the guy on the mound. All of the years that I have been doing this, the game revolves around that guy on the mound. And there's other things as well, but if you don't have that then you're in trouble. We'll need (Caleb) Yarborough to just be the guy he has been this season for us, give us a chance and pitch like he has; go out there and be fearless, throw his fastball for strikes and move the ball around."

NEXT UP
South Alabama will return to action Sunday when it faces UT Arlington in the series finale at 1 p.m. at Clay Gould Ballpark.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with USAJaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at Twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

Join the Dugout Club - the baseball-specific support club of the Jaguar Athletic Fund. Members enjoy all games from inside the Stadium Club with climate control, private restrooms, private concessions and access to listen to the radio broadcast. All donations to the Dugout Club go directly to support the South Alabama baseball program. For more information on how you can join visit JaguarAthleticFund.com.