Box Score | Notes

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Noah Vaughan belted his fifth home run of the year and Trae Patterson worked his fourth quality start but a run in the ninth inning lifted Georgia Southern to a 4-3 win at UTA to even the three-game series, on a picture perfect Saturday afternoon at Clay Gould Ballpark.

UTA (12-12, 3-2 Sun Belt Conference) and Georgia Southern (13-9, 2-3 Sun Belt) squared off in a second straight one-run game to open the series. The Mavs got single runs in the second and third innings but GS answered with a two-run fourth, all of the runs allowed by Patterson. Vaughan gave UTA a 3-2 lead with his bomb in the sixth inning but the Eagles plated a run in the seventh and got a two-out, two-strike knock to score the go-ahead run from third base in the ninth inning.

The relief combination of Jacob Condra-Bogan, Connor Simmons and Landon Hughes combined to work six, one-run innings to finish off the game, striking out seven.

ON THE MOUND
Patterson worked his fourth quality start of the year in his sixth start. Patterson, a native of Fort Worth, Texas, worked 6.2 innings, allowing just two hits and three runs, walking five and striking out five. With the tying run on second with two outs in the seventh, UTA turned to senior righty Austin Gardner in relief. Gardner allowed the runner to plate but got out of the inning.

Adam Meyer (0-2) started the eighth inning and got four outs, taking the game into the ninth inning. With the go-ahead run on first and one out, Dylan Schneider came on to pitch. Schneider surrendered the go-ahead run, charged to Meyer, but got the final two outs in the top of the ninth.

GS (12-9, 1-2 Sun Belt) starter Brian Eichhorn worked three innings, allowing two runs - one earned - walking three and striking out three. To start the fourth inning, Georgia Southern turned to Condra-Bogan. Condra-Bogan allowed just a run on four hits over four innings, fanning six. Simmons (2-0) started the eighth inning, working a shutout frame before handing the ball to Hughes after a leadoff walk in the bottom of the ninth inning. Hughes got the final three outs for his third save of the year.

AT THE DISH
Vaughan led the Mavs at the plate with a career-high tying 3-for-4 game with two RBI. UTA also got a two-hit game from catcher Will Olson, with Omar Salinas and Brady Cox each adding hits. Easton Johnson, Phil Berthiaume, Aaron Funk and Quintin Rohrbaugh each found their way on base via a walk or a hit by pitch.

HOW THEY SCORED
UTA plated a run in the bottom of the second inning, getting a one-out single down the rightfield line from Cox to spark the rally. Vaughan followed with a one-hop laser under the wickets of the third baseman and Funk load the bases with a two-out walk. Johnson then forced in Cox with a full-count walk.

In the bottom of the third inning, UTA mounted a rally to stretch its lead. Salinas drew a walk and Rohrbaugh was hit by a pitch to lead off. Olson then laid down a bunt single to load the bases. After an unconventional lined-out double play put runners on the corners, Vaughan fought off a 1-2 offering into leftfield for a two-strike, two-out RBI single, allowing Rohrbaugh to score.

GS answered in the top of the fourth inning as Ryan Cleveland drew a one-out walk and Jordan Wren executed a hit-and-run with a slash double, painted down the leftfield line, scoring Cleveland from first. After the second out, Mason McWhorter singled into shallow leftfield with Rohrbaugh fielding the ball barehanded and throwing a strike to the plate but the ball skipped away to allow Wren to score.

Vaughan put the Mavs back on top in the bottom of the sixth inning, leading off with a no-doubt blast over the rightfield fence for his fifth homer of the year.

GS tied the game back up in the top of the seventh inning, getting a leadoff walk to second base with two outs for a UTA pitching change. After a wild pitch, Steven Curry singled to leftfield with two strikes to score the tying run.

NEXT
The series will conclude on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. CT at Clay Gould Ballpark. The Mavs will start junior southpaw Jakob Hernandez (2-0, 3.48 ERA) vs. GS sophomore righty Chase Cohen (1-2, 4.64 ERA). The game will be broadcast live on the UTA Radio Network, with the Voice of the Mavs, Josh Sours, calling the action live on UTAMavs.com.