<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3BhSg7_0wEzfTtA00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3BhSg7_0wEzfTtA00" width="1761" height="1177" ><figcaption>Sixth-year pitcher Emilie Hoelscher dives toward the plate during a game against Northeast Texas Community College on Oct. 18 at Allan Saxe Field. UTA won 20-6. Photo by Natanael Mazariego</figcaption></figure>The softball team reached the halfway point of their fall preseason schedule, picking up a 20-6 victory over Northeast Texas Community College on Friday at Allan Saxe Field.Head coach Kara Dill credited the strong offensive showing to the time and effort her coaching staff has invested into each player, noting the high scoring as the fruits of the team’s hard work put in this fall. After a scoreless first inning, UTA took the lead in the second inning, scoring two runs with the bases loaded. The Mavericks added two more runs in the bottom of the third inning with a solo home run to center field and a sacrifice fly with runners on the corners, making the score 4-0.The following inning, NTCC would strike for a pair of their own, smashing a two-run home run just within the left field foul pole. In the bottom half of the fourth, UTA once again loaded the bases, producing another two-run outcome.“We've been challenging them in those first five [innings] to work on producing runs when we don't start the innings with runners on, and they did that for a couple innings in a row.” Dill said.The team doesn’t want to leave as many base runners stranded as they did, but the progress the team is making in getting runners on base and driving in runs is improving each game, Dill said. <figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1lIidE_0wEzfTtA00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1lIidE_0wEzfTtA00" width="1762" height="1176" ><figcaption>Freshman pitcher Kynlee Bowlin throws the ball during a game against Northeast Texas Community College on Oct. 18 at Allan Saxe Field. Bowlin was a pitcher for Frenship High School in Lubbock, Texas. Photo by Natanael Mazariego</figcaption></figure>The teams then shifted to situational hitting, starting innings six through 10 with a runner, or runners, on various bases. In the sixth inning, UTA picked up a lone run, extending their lead to 7-2. NTCC would bring things closer during innings seven and eight, scoring three runs before the Mavericks’ offense responded with a six-run outburst in the bottom of the eighth, extending the lead to 13-5. “Pitching-wise, I'm going to keep challenging them to work ahead in some counts, try to get some strikeouts in those high-leverage situations,” Dill said. “Just take some pressure off of the defense and help eliminate the runs.”After the Mavericks added two insurance runs in the ninth inning, both teams started the tenth with the bases loaded. NTCC scored one run, while UTA tacked on another five, effectively ending the game due to a five-run limit per inning.“I do think the things that we have been pouring into and practicing on a consistent basis are the things that are getting better, but they are not an ending point by any means,” Dill said.The Mavericks will travel to Sam Houston State University to take on the Bearkats at 2 p.m. Saturday.The matchup will be a good test for the team since Dill said that championship teams know how to win on the road.@jwheels_1</div></body>

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UTA’s softball picks up 20-6 win against Northeast Texas Community College

The softball team reached the halfway point of their fall preseason schedule, picking up a 20-6 victory over Northeast Texas Community College on Friday at Allan Saxe Field. Head coach Kara Dill credited the strong offensive showing to the time and effort her coaching staff has invested into each player, noting the high scoring as the fruits of the team’s hard work put in this fall.