March 15, 2011
Game Notes
Ruston, La. - Looking to snap a five-game losing streak, Louisiana Tech (8-7) continues the eight game tour through the state of Texas with a stop in the metroplex on Wednesday night to take on the Mavericks of UT Arlington. Freshman Chris Sadberry will make his second career start. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. CST at Clay Gould Ballpark.
Last weekend the Bulldogs dropped four games on the road at 17th-ranked Baylor. Tech struggled against the Bears' pitching staff posting a .184 average on the weekend with Clint Ewing leading the way hitting at a .385 clip.
UT Arlington (8-7) enters the week after taking two of three against Sam Houston State to open up Southland Conference play. The Mavericks will host 10th-ranked TCU on Tuesday night prior to squaring off with the Bulldogs in a midweek showdown on Wednesday.
Offensively, the Bulldogs are led by Mark Threlkeld who is hitting .373 with a team-high 22 hits and seven doubles. Joey Ford is the only other Bulldog that is hitting above .300 as he has posted a .356 average through the first 15 games of the season.
After an impressive debut in a hostile environment, Sadberry will be looking to improve upon his first career start when he takes the mound Wednesday evening. Last week against Baylor, the freshman allowed just four hits and two runs in 3.1 innings of work.
The Mavericks are hitting .306 as a club and are led by freshman Ryan Walker's .429 batting average. The UTA pitching staff has held opposing teams to a .273 average while posting a 4.47 ERA.
ON DECK
Following a midweek game against UT Arlington, Louisiana Tech will finish the 2011 Texas Tour with a stop in Houston to take on 25th-ranked Rice at Reckling Park. After the series with Rice, the Bulldogs will play 12 of their next 13 games inside the friendly confines of J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park.
THE RUNDOWN
• Joey Ford has tallied eight multiple hit games to start the 2011 season and has posted base hits in 12 of 15 games this season.
• Mark Threlkeld leads the conference in doubles (7) and total bases (38) while ranking second in home runs (3). In fact, the junior third baseman ranks amongst the WAC leaders in 12 offensive categories.
• The Bulldogs have lost eight straight road games within the state of Texas dating back to last season. With four more games within the state this season, Tech will look to snap the streak Wednesday night at UT Arlington.
SCOUTING THE MAVERICKS
Wednesday evening will mark the 88th meeting and just the ninth meeting during the Wade Simoneaux era against the Mavericks of UT Arlington. Of the 87 prior meetings, Tech owns a 41-46 all-time record in the series. However, the Bulldogs have won the last four meetings between the two clubs.
UT Arlington returns seven position starters and three starting positions while welcoming a total of 19 newcomers to a roster that posted a 29-31 overall record last season. The Mavericks lost a total of four players that were drafted within the first 17 rounds of the 2010 MLB Draft, including the 10th overall selection in Michael Choice.
Offensively, UTA is led by a pair of newcomers in freshman Ryan Walker and JC transfer Michael Guerra. Walker leads the club with a .429 batting average, posting a team-high 27 hits and eight RBI. Hitting at a .355 clip, Guerra ranks second on the club with 22 hits and leads the team with two home runs.
Entering the week, the Mavericks have an 8-7 record and will face 10th-ranked TCU on Tuesday night before taking on the Bulldogs on Wednesday. Although UTA has not named a starter for Wednesday's contest with Tech, the staff owns a 4.47 ERA in 131.0 innings of work this season. Opposing clubs are hitting .273 against the Mavericks staff.
