Jags Baseball Fall In First Round Of SBC Tournament
The #7 seed Jaguars fell to the #2 seeded UT-Arlington Mavericks 8-4 on Wednesday night in the opening round of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament at Eddie Stanky Field.
Mavericks righty Daniel Milliman (6-0) allowed three unearned runs on five hits with three strikeouts and five walks in the win. USA’s Ben Taylor (3-5) took the loss in 3 2/3 innings while allowing four runs on five hits with four strikeouts and four walks. Matt Bell threw 3 2/3 innings of scoreless relief and allowed just one hit while striking out three with only two walks.
The Mavericks led the Jags 4-0 entering the bottom of the fifth, but would double their lead in the inning after the leadoff hitter would get on base after being hit by a pitch, then moved to second on a bunt single. A walk would load the bases before Travis Sibley delivered a three run double down the left field line. An RBI double would score Sibley to increase the lead to 8-0.
In the top of the sixth, the Jags loaded the bases with two outs after a leadoff walk by Connor Hawthorne. Cameron Cummings would reach base on a fielding error by Sibley followed by Davis Knapp drawing a walk. Drew LaBounty would hit a two-out two-run single down the right field line to drive in Hawthorne and Cummings. DeGallier would double down the left field line to score Knapp and cut the Mavericks lead to 8-3.
In the top of the ninth, the Jags would plate their last run on a two-out RBI single by Hayden Jones.
USA will return to action on Thursday when they face #3 seeded Arkansas State at 12:30pm in an elimination game. ASU fell to #6 seeded Troy in the first round 4-3 in 13 innings prior to the Jagaurs game against UT-Arlington.
At 9:00 AM #5 seed Western Kentucky will face off against #8 seed UL Monroe in an elimination game.