STATESBORO, Ga. – The UT Arlington Mavericks struck for six runs over the first two innings and got a solid effort from starter Joel Kuhnel to avoid the series sweep and salvage a game in the Sun Belt Conference series with an 8-3 win at J.I. Clements Stadium.
The Mavericks (15-19, 6-9) tallied four doubles over the first two frames and jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning on a double from Tanner Houston.
Doubles from RJ Williams, Brady Cox and Travis Sibley all scored runs in a four-run second inning for UTA. Cox scored the fourth run of the frame on a sacrifice bunt and a throwing error from third baseman
Cody Lanford.
Kuhnel (2-1) retired 13-straight batters after allowing a home run to
Aaron Mizell in the third inning to pick up the win. The sophomore righthander allowed three runs on four hits and walked a batter. He struck out six batters over eight innings of work.
Eagle (21-16, 11-7) starter
Connor Simmons was lifted in the second inning after allowing five runs on five hits. Simmons (1-3) did not walk a batter and struck out two over an inning of work.
Hunter Thomas tied the game in the bottom of the first inning with a two-run home run. Thomas plated a two-out double from
Chase Griffin with his eighth home run of the season.
Mizell's long ball in the third inning was the 10th of the season for the senior, making him the first Eagle since A.J. Wirnsberger (2009-10) to post back-to-back 10 home run seasons.
The Mavericks tacked on two more runs in the fifth inning on a two-run homer from Williams to extend their lead to 8-3.
Chris Brown worked a pair of scoreless innings to finish the game. Brown allowed a single and struck out a batter.
The baseball team will be on the road next week and will face the Mercer Bears in Macon, Ga. on Wednesday before heading on to UALR for a three-game Sun Belt Conference series.
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