Feb. 24, 2009

Texas Game Notes

ARLINGTON, Texas - UT ARLINGTON at TEXAS
February 24, 2009 �oe Austin, Texas

First Pitch: Tuesday: 5 p.m.
Series History: Texas leads 52-16
Last Meeting: UTA defeated Texas, 4-3 in Austin (2008)

Stadium: UFCU Disch-Falk Field (Capacity: 6,649)
Dimensions: 340 (LF), 400 (CF), 325 RF)
Live Stats: (GameTracker): www.utamavs.com
Live Stats: (GameTracker): www.TexasSports.com
Internet Video: www.TexasSports.tv

UT ARLINGTON MAVERICKS
Overall Record: 3-1
Conference Record: 0-0
Last 5/Last 10: 3-1/3-1
Streak: Won 2
Rankings: BA: NR/CB: NR/NCBWA: NR/ESPN: NR
Website: www.utamavs.com
Head Coach: Darin Thomas
Career Record: 29-32 (2nd Year)
Record at UTA: 29-32 (2nd Year)

TEXAS LONGHORNS
Overall Record: 4-0
Conference Record: 0-0
Last 5/Last 10: 4-0/4-0
Streak: Won 4
Rankings: BA: #4/CB: #8/NCBWA: #7/ESPN: #9
Website: www.TexasSports.com
Head Coach: Augie Garrido
Career Record: 1,672-777-8 (41 Years)
Record at Texas: 521-253-1 (13 Years)

FIRST PITCH
UT Arlington travels to play Texas on Tuesday after winning its final two games at the UTA/Hilton Invitational with back-to-back wins over Siena (13-0, 12-1). The Mavericks totaled 25 runs and 32 base hits during their past two games. Sophomore center fielder Michael Choice batted .529 (9-for-17) with nine RBI.

INSIDE THE SERIES
UT Arlington trails the all-time series with Texas, 16-52... The Mavericks defeated the Longhorns last season in Austin 4-3, as then-freshman Mark Picca earned his first collegiate win. All but one meeting between these two teams have been played in Austin (Round Rock, Texas - Feb. 6, 2007). UT Arlington has won four of the last 11 meetings.

SAUTER TAKES THE HILL FOR FIRST START OF '09
After pitching three scoreless innings in relief against Arkansas State in the Mavericks' season opener, senior Andy Sauter will start on the mound for the Mavericks against Texas on Tuesday. Sauter led the Mavericks last season throwing 85.2 innings and tied for the team lead with 56 strikeouts. Texas will start 6-foot-4 right-handed pitcher Austin Dicharry, who is a freshman from Spring, Texas.

KAINER IS ALSO A WELL KNOWN NAME IN AUSTIN
UTA senior right fielder Andrew Kainer has started the season batting .455 with a double, four RBI and a team-leading two home runs. Kainer also has strong blood lines to the University of Texas baseball program with his father, Don, and cousin, Carson, playing at Texas for NCAA National Championship teams. Don pitched for the 1975 championship team before finishing his career with the Texas Rangers. Carson, who is currently in the Cincinnati Reds organization, was an outfielder on the 2005 Texas squad that won the College World Series.

UTA TAKES SECOND PLACE AT UTA/HILTON INVITE
The Mavericks opened their 2009 season going 3-1 at the 16th Annual UTA/Hilton Invitational at Clay Gould Ballpark. UT Arlington defeated Arkansas State and Siena twice. UTA is now 27-21 all-time in the tournament while winning or sharing tournament titles in 1994, 1996, 1999, 2001, 2002 and 2006.

NOW THAT IS SWINGING IT
UT Arlington recorded a .361 batting average in four games at the UTA/Hilton Invitational, marking the highest team average in the tournament. The Mavericks tallied 36 runs in four games, including 13 runs in their third game against Siena and 12 runs against Siena in the invitational finale.

HITTING - PITCHING - DEFENSE
A total of 12 UTA position players are hitting at least .300, nine pitchers have a 0.00 earned run average and only one Maverick has more than one fielding error (Evan Raley 2). The Mavericks' .361 team batting average was an invitational high and the UTA pitching staffs' 3.00 team ERA ranked lowest among UTA/Invitational teams.

HITTING IN THE CLUTCH
The Mavericks have 34 RBI after four games, compared to just 11 by their opponents. Their clutch hitting is in large part to hitting for a high average (.316) with runners in scoring position. The Maverick who has had the most success hitting with runners in scoring position is sophomore center fielder Michael Choice who is batting .556 (5-for-9) with runners in scoring position. Choice is also batting .625 (5-for-8) with two outs.

SHUTTING OUT THE COMPETITION
The Mavericks notched their second shutout in the UTA/Hilton Invitational in 16th years of play with a 13-0 victory over Siena on Saturday evening. The Mavs had only one in their previous 15 UTA/Hilton Invites (2002, UTA 2-Air Force 0).

MOUND PRESENCE
In the final two games of the UTA/Hilton Invitational, Maverick pitchers combined to throw 18 innings while allowing seven hits, one run and four walks with 15 strikeouts. During those two games, Siena batted just .120 against Maverick pitchers.

SETTING THE BAR HIGH
Sophomore Rett Varner and senior Drew Clementz each gave UT Arlington a quality start on Sunday and Monday against Siena. Both Varner (6.0 IP) and Clementz (7.0) hit career marks with their most recent performances. Varner tied his career-high for innings while Clementz set a new career high on Monday afternoon. Both pitchers collected wins in their first outings of the season.

VICTORIES OVER TOP 10 OPPONENTS
UT Arlington has posted 21 victories over teams that have been ranked in the top 10 in the nation at the time of the contest. The Mavs added to their total with a 16-8 victory over then-No. 7 Texas A&M in 2008 at Clay Gould Ballpark (May 13).

05/13/08 vs. #7 Texas A&M 16-8
04/11/06 @ #6 Texas 6-3
03/08/05 @ #9 Texas A&M 6-4
02/15/05 @ #8 Baylor 9-6
01/26/01 @ #6 Arizona State 5-3
02/19/94 vs. #6 Oklahoma State 6-4
04/06/93 vs. #2 Texas A&M 8-6
03/10/93 vs. #8 Oklahoma State 26-13
03/28/92 @ #5 Texas 5-4
02/21/89 @ #7 Texas 2-0
03/05/88 vs. #10 Oklahoma 5-4
03/06/88 vs. #10 Oklahoma 11-10
02/16/85 @ #3 Texas 14-13
02/17/85 @ #3 Texas 7-1
02/19/83 @ #1 Texas 10-6
02/20/83 @ #1 Texas 8-5
03/20/81 @ #5 Texas 6-1
02/27/76 vs. #7 Oral Roberts 6-4
02/27/76 vs. #7 Oral Roberts 5-3
02/28/76 vs. #7 Oral Roberts 9-1
02/20/76 @ #10 TCU 3-0