UTA smokes A&M in final nonconference game
Eagle Staff Report

ARLINGTON -- Michael Choice went 4 for 4 and drove in five runs on a three-run homer and a single, helping Texas-Arlington beat No. 7 Texas A&M 16-8 on Tuesday at Clay Gould Ballpark.

It was just the Aggies' (42-11) second midweek loss this season. Michael Heard (0-1) took the loss as A&M used nine pitchers in the game.

"I think we were ready to play tonight, but we were outplayed in every aspect of the game," A&M head coach Rob Childress said. "We got outcompeted and outhustled, and give UTA credit. They did an outstanding job."

The Aggies open their final Big 12 series Friday in Austin against Texas. A&M leads Nebraska by 11/2 games in the Big 12 standings.

"We will come out and have a good practice [Wednesday] and a good practice Thursday and get ready for another big conference series this weekend," Childress said.

The Mustangs (23-29) broke a 2-2 tie with a two-out rally in the fourth inning off Heard. UTA left fielder Brock Wilson started it with a double just inside the left field line. After a stolen base and a walk to Danny Slinkman, center fielder Choice sent his three-run blast over the left-field fence to give UTA a 5-2 lead.

The Mustangs added four more two-out runs in the fifth to extend their lead. Following a passed ball on a strikeout that scored a run and kept the inning alive, Choice drove in a pair with a single to right and gave UTA a 9-2 lead.

Heard allowed three runs on three hits in three innings of work. He struck out four and walked two.

Matthew Otteman (4-3) was the winner for UTA, giving up seven hits and four runs over 62/3 innings. He walked five and fanned four.

A&M shortstop Jose Duran drove in single runs in the first and third innings. He knocked in Blake Stouffer with a sacrifice fly in the first, then added an RBI single up the middle to plate Dane Carter in the third that extended his hit streak to 23 games.

The Aggies added two in the seventh on an RBI fielder's choice by Duran and a run-scoring single to right center by Luke Anders, making the score 9-4, but the Mavericks answered with four in the bottom half of the frame to go up by nine.

Senior Daman Aaron hit his first career home run -- a three-run shot to center -- in the top of the eighth to make the score 13-7.

Duran finished 1 for 3 with a team-high three RBIs.