Fifth-year left fielder Kelsey Creech runs the bases during a home run during a game against Columbia University on March 14 at Allan Saxe Field. Creech had two runs.
UTA (11-14) closed out the Maverick Invitational with a 9-2 win against Columbia University (5-12) Saturday at Allan Saxe Field.
The Mavericks opened the tournament with varied results, losing 5-3 against Columbia University and winning 4-1 against South Dakota State University (15-16) Friday.
On Saturday, before its second matchup with Columbia, UTA swept South Dakota State, beating the Jackrabbits 6-4 in the afternoon.
Junior catcher Mia McNulty prepares to strike the ball during a game against Columbia University on March 14 at Allan Saxe Field. McNulty had two at bats.
UTA looked to rebound against Columbia in their second meeting. The Mavericks started off hot defensively, only allowing a single hit and one player on base in a quick half-inning. However, the Mavericks could not capitalize on offense, and the first inning closed with a runner left on base from a walk.
Sophomore right-handed pitcher Madi McDonnell gets ready to pitch during a game against Columbia University on March 14 at Allan Saxe Field. McDonnell has pitched 49.2 innings this season.
Columbia freshman pitcher Mads Lawson left the Maverick batters in a daze through two innings, but Lawson’s no-hitter fell apart in the third inning when freshman right fielder Kaylee Schweitzer got a base hit. Schweitzer scored the first run of the game, making it home after a throwing error.
Head coach Kara Dill said the team’s offense is used to scoring runs, and even if they don’t get anything through the first spin of the order, they’ll be confident on the second.
Errors and walks in the third led to a UTA-dominated inning. Fifth-year left fielder Kelsey Creech was hit by a pitch and earned the fourth run in the inning, in which the Mavericks took a 7-0 lead over the Lions.
Creech said that although the team did not earn many hits in the inning, they were just trying to score and push as far ahead as possible.
“Our minds were just to stay cool, calm and collected and just cause as much chaos as we can,” she said.
Columbia bounced back in the next inning with a two-run home run, but UTA answered with one of their own on Creech’s first hit of the night. UTA led 9-2 at the end of the fourth inning.
Freshman right fielder Kaylee Schweitzer tosses her bat, preparing to sprint to first base during a game against Columbia University on March 14 at Allan Saxe Field. Schweitzer had two hits.
“I was just trying to stick to my plan, and if they threw it over the plate, I just knew I had to hit it and hit it hard,” Creech said.
Both teams’ home runs marked the last runs scored in the game, as the fifth, sixth and seventh innings were somewhat quiet.
Sophomore pitcher Madi McDonnell pitched a complete game, giving up six hits, two runs and two walks. Dill said McDonnell commanded the game well from the mound.
Junior catcher Mia McNulty throws the ball back to the pitcher during a game against Columbia University on March 14 at Allan Saxe Field. McNulty had one base on balls.
“I think she went three times through that order, which is tough,” Dill said. “It’s tough to do with any lineup, to go three times through with the same arm. But again, she just commands.”
Dill said she was happy with the team’s performance over the weekend at the invitational. She said while the beginning of the year didn’t start off great, the team has battled and only gotten better.
Senior first baseman Dee McClarity hugs sophomore right-handed pitcher Madi McDonnell after their victory against Columbia University on March 14 at Allan Saxe Field. UTA won 9-2.
“I think that gives us a lot of confidence that all three sides of our game are really starting to form and really starting to run together,” Dill said. “We’re going to be tough to beat when we are in that situation with all three working together.”
The Mavericks will begin a three-game series against Abilene Christian University at 2 p.m. Friday at Poly Wells Field in Abilene, Texas. The games will be available to stream on ESPN+.
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