Graduate pitcher Nick Perry pitches during a game against Baylor University on April 7 at Clay Gould Ballpark. Perry faced nine batters.
UTA baseball (13-18) lost 5-2 to Baylor University (19-13) Tuesday at Clay Gould Ballpark.
The matchup concludes UTA’s seven-game homestand, where the Mavericks finished 5-2 after winning a series over Villanova University and Tarleton State University. Baylor came into Arlington fresh off a series win over Brigham Young University and with a 7-5 record in the Big 12 Conference.
“In all honesty, that’s a game we lost by attrition. They threw strikes; we did not. They made the routine plays, we did not,” head coach Mike Trapasso said. “That’s the game. It’s not like they went out and hammered us.”
Noah Fields, redshirt junior first baseman, attempts to run to first base after a hit during a game against Baylor University on April 7 at Clay Gould Ballpark. Fields had three at-bats.
Senior second baseman Xavier Melendez opened the game’s scoring in the first inning, sending a ball over the left field fence for a two-run home run. Baylor countered with an RBI single in both the second and third innings, evening the score.
Including the 406-foot shot, Melendez went 2 for 4 at the plate, leading the Mavericks in hits on the night.
“It went well, first couple of ABs [at-bats], didn’t play great defensively, but it happens,” Melendez said. “Just got to move on to the next one. Expect the next play, and just got to make it.”
Noah Fields, redshirt junior first baseman, tosses the ball to a teammate during a game against Baylor University on April 7 at Clay Gould Ballpark. Fields has had 16 hits this season.
Baylor loaded the bases and scored three runs in the fifth inning to take a lead it wouldn’t relinquish. After the first inning, UTA wouldn’t get another hit until the sixth inning, and overall went only 0 for 2 with runners in scoring position.
Junior shortstop Harold Laracuente stops Baylor University freshman center fielder Bo Caraway from reaching second base during a game April 7 at Clay Gould Ballpark. Laracuente had six putouts.
In addition, the Maverick defense combined to make two errors, throw five walks and hit four batters.
“What disappointed me was how poorly we played defensively. It says two errors, we really made six if you really factor in plays that we should make, and always do make, that were scored correctly as hits,” Trapasso said. “Those are plays we make, and we have to make.”
Outside of Melendez’s home run, the only other extra-base hit was a first-inning double by senior center fielder Xander McAfee. McAfee was also the only Maverick to get on base during the hit drought, drawing a walk in the fourth inning.
“We just got to get the bats high,” McAfee said. “It’s tough coming out here on midweeks, but we just get the bats going, and we’re right in that game.”
UTA continues its Western Athletic Conference slate this weekend, going on the road to face California Baptist University in a three-game series. The matchups are set for 8 p.m. Friday, 7 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday, all at James W. Totman Stadium in Riverside, California, and will be available to stream on ESPN+.
Senior second baseman Xavier Melendez runs to first base during a game against Baylor University on April 7 at Clay Gould Ballpark. Melendez had one home run.
“They don’t have a weakness. But that’s okay, because I trust our guys on weekends,” Trapasso said. “Frankly, I trust our guys when we go on the road, because we play better on the road in offensive environments, which Cal Baptist definitely is that.”
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