Box Score | Notes

BOONE, N.C. -- Jakob Hernandez fired six innings and allowed one earned run, helping lead UTA to a 6-5 win at Appalachian State, sweeping the three-game series, on a sunny Sunday afternoon at Beaver Field at Smith Stadium.

UTA (17-16, 8-4 Sun Belt Conference) rallied from behind in the middle innings and held off a ninth-inning charge from Appalachian State (12-20, 3-9 Sun Belt) to earn its first series sweep in conference play of the year.

The Mavs vault into sole possession of first place in the Sun Belt Conference Western Division, just ahead of Louisiana (7-4-1), which tied its finale with Coastal Carolina on Sunday.

ON THE MOUND
A native of Parker, Colo., Hernandez (3-0) tossed his fifth quality start of the season, working six innings, allowing three hits and three runs - one earned - walking three and striking out eight. With the leadoff runner reaching in the seventh inning, UTA turned to senior Austin Gardner in relief.

Gardner worked into the ninth inning, tossing two innings, allowing one run and one walk, striking out two. With the first two hitters reaching to open the bottom of the ninth inning, Daniel James entered from the bullpen. James got the final three outs of the game, working around a run allowed, to earn his seventh save of the year.

Appalachian State starter Luke Watts (1-3) worked 5.1 innings, allowing nine hits and five runs, walking one and striking out three. ASU also used Reed Howell and Matt Brill in relief.

AT THE DISH
UTA had 12 hits in the win, including two-hit games from Phil Berthiaume, Omar Salinas, Will Olson and Noah Vaughan. RJ Williams drove in a pair with a double, with Quintin Rohrbaugh, Brady Cox and Aaron Funk each adding knocks.

HOW THEY SCORED
UTA opened the scoring for the third straight game, plating a pair of runs in the top of the second inning for an early 2-0 lead. Cox and Vaughan sparked the rally with two-strike hits through the right side. Williams then spanked a two-run double down the leftfield line, scoring Cox and Vaughan.

The Mountaineers got on the board in the bottom of the third inning, getting a leadoff full-count walk from Jared McCarver and a single from Conner Leonard to open the frame. After a sacrifice bunt, Jason Curtis hung a sac fly to rightfield to score McCarver. Matt Vernon then chopped into a UTA throwing error, with Leonard scoring from first as the ball skidded to the fence behind the first base bag. Drake Zupcic then singled to leftfield to score Vernon for a 32 lead.

The Mavs regained the lead in the top of the sixth inning, with Olson starting the frame with a single through the left side. After a Vaughan 3-2 walk, Berthiaume pounded a single to centerfield, with the attempted sliding stop getting by the centerfielder, scoring the pair for a 4-3 lead. With the infield playing in and one out, Funk singled into leftfield, scoring Berthiaume.

The Mavs added on in the eighth inning as Vaughan reached on a bunt single and while on third with two outs and Williams at first, UTA executed the delayed steal, with Vaughan sliding in headfirst ahead of the tag.

In the bottom of the ninth, ASU rallied to load the bases with an infield hit and two walks with no outs. After a 1-2-3 double play, Avery Jackson singled into leftfield to score a pair to make it 6-5.

NEXT

The Mavs will return to action on Thursday, opening an Easter Weekend three-game series with Little Rock at 6:30 p.m. CT at Clay Gould Stadium.