Mavericks Down Islanders to Stay Unbeaten in Southland Tournament
SAN MARCOS, Texas - Another day of solid starting pitching and
timely hitting lifted No. 4 seed UT Arlington to a 10-5 victory over No. 8 seed
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Thursday at the 2012 Southland Conference Baseball
Tournament at Bobcat Ballpark.
UTA catcher Greg McCall swung a big stick. The sophomore smashed a
home run, added a double and totaled three RBI. Preston Beck also drove in
three. Travis Sibley, Jake Pinchback and Matt Shortall each scored twice for
the Mavericks.
UTA recovered from an early 1-0 deficit with three runs in the top
of the third. Sibley and Pinchback walked to lead off the inning, bringing up
Ryan Walker.
The sophomore shortstop laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt that
Islanders pitcher Trevor Foss threw into the right-field bullpen area in foul
ground. Sibley would score, with Pinchback getting to third base and Walker
winding up at second.
Pinchback and Walker would both scores on consecutive RBI
groundouts by Preston Beck and Michael Guerra. UTA starter John Beck (3-1)
would hold the lead for the next four innings before departing in the seventh
in favor of reliever Adam Westbrook.
The Mavericks piled on four more runs in the fourth, giving Beck
all the cushion he would need. McCall's two-run homer to right-center - just
his second long ball this season - scored Shortall. Southland RBI leader
Preston Beck plated Sibley and Pinchback with a bases-loaded single to left.
The Islanders took the game's first lead, getting an unearned run
home thanks to a sacrifice fly in the first inning. A&M-Corpus Christi took
advantage of a bobbled grounder by Sibley to get Jordan Lee to third.
The Islanders added runs in the third, fourth and eighth innings
via solo home runs. Westbrook was pulled with two outs in the eighth for
Michael Morales after giving up a run-scoring single. Adam Boydston pitched a
perfect ninth for UTA.
The Mavericks can clinch a spot playing for the Southland
tournament title and the automatic NCAA tournament berth that goes with it on
Saturday with another victory Friday afternoon.
The Mavericks (34-23) are 2-0 in the double-elimination tournament
with either Sam Houston State (1-1) or A&M-Corpus Christi (1-1) up next
Friday at 4 p.m. The Bearkats and Islanders face off Friday morning at 9 a.m.
for the right to play UT Arlington.
Postgame Quotes
UT
Arlington coach Darin Thomas:
"We took advantage and got some key hits with the wind blowing
out. We had to answer because they jumped on us and John (Beck) did a nice job
of minimizing the damage after the first inning. Once we got the lead, I
thought we did a good job of building on it."
On
John Beck's performance on the mound
"You want to win, but at the same time you don't want to use
everybody. John's start was key for us. He's been hurt a little bit and hasn't
gone that long since early March so it was a big pick-me-up for our team."
On
Greg McCall's performance at the plate
"His home run I thought was the big hit and then followed that up
with the double. He has run into some tough-luck hitting this year so it was good
to see a couple balls fall for him."
On
only needing one more win to get to the championship game
"We're just going one out at a time. We don't even know who we're
going to pitch tomorrow. This was the big game. Two years ago we were in the
same boat so hopefully that experience will help us."
UT
Arlington pitcher John Beck
"I had a rough first
inning. It's a little different mound but I figured it out. I got the first out
of the second inning, and I was on a roll from there. They hit a few home runs
off me but in this park the wind blows out 24/7. It's not an easy pitcher's
park. Everybody in our lineup I have trust in and every pitcher that comes in I
have trust in."
On
what he needed to change in his approach
"The bullpen mound is real small so getting up there is a big
difference. Pitching at home, we have a smaller mound than they do, too. After
I figured out what I needed to do, I was on a roll from there."
On
Greg McCall's hitting today
"It's been a little rough for him this year, but I'm glad he
finally figured it out. He needed a big day and it was a good day to have him."
On
if he will pitch Saturday
"I would love to, depending on how my arm is doing. Lately, I've
been having a good recovery so I hope to pitch Saturday too."
Texas
A&M-Corpus Christi head coach Scott Malone
On
the team facing John Beck
"More than anything, he pounded the zone. I thought he threw a lot
of strikes and backed us into a corner. Today wasn't our day. We didn't swing
the bats great. Yesterday, we looked like one of the better teams in the
league. We come out today and we looked like one of the worst. It's been an
inconsistent ride for us. In this venue, there are no more life lessons. You're
fighting to survive another day. This team has been in the same spot. Last
year, we won 17 innings and came up one inning short from making it to the last
day. We'll come out fighting tomorrow."
On
the strength on the team's pitching
"I think we're good. I still think we're in an ok spot but obviously
we have to go execute. We need to be the team we were yesterday. Today, I felt
like we were on our heels for about the last seven innings. UTA took it to us,
and they're a good club. Now we have to play the best team in the league again
tomorrow morning, and it's going to be a challenge."