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STATESBORO, Ga. -- Arkansas State plated three runs in the seventh inning to break open a tie game and post a 4-2 win over UTA in the second round of the 2017 Sun Belt Conference Championships, Friday afternoon at J.I. Clements Stadium on the campus of Georgia Southern.

UTA (30-25) and Arkansas State (28-26) were locked in a 1-1 game entering the seventh inning before the Red Wolves - who have won at least two games in the Sun Belt Championships in eight straight years - rallied with three runs to take a lead, with their fourth run coming on a ball lost in the sun in the outfield. Three Red Wolves pitches combined to handcuff the UTA offense, limiting the Mavs to just four singles and five walks, with UTA getting single runs in the first and eighth innings.

Due to an intense rain storm over the first two days of the 2017 Sun Belt Championships, the tournament was altered from a double-elimination format to a single-elimination field. The loss ends a historic season for the Mavs in 2017, as UTA set a program record with 20 conference wins and won the Sun Belt Western Division.

ON THE MOUND
UTA starter Trae Patterson (7-4) worked his team-leading 12th quality start of the year. He tossed 6.1 innings, allowing seven hits and three runs, walking one and striking out five.

Austin Gardner worked in relief of Patterson in the seventh inning, allowing both inherited runners to score as the go-ahead tallies. Gardner fired a strong outing, tossing 2.1 innings, allowing the run on the sun-aided fly ball, striking out four consecutive hitters.

Arkansas State starter Peyton Culbertson got an out in the first inning before turning to Tyler Mitzel with the bases loaded. Mitzel spun a gem, allowing just a hit and a walk in five shutout innings, striking out one. With one out and two runners on in the sixth inning, A-State called on Tyler Zuber in relief. Zuber (6-1) worked 3.2 innings, allowing two hits and a run, walking one and striking out six.

AT THE PLATE
UTA was limited to four hits in the game, with RJ Williams collecting the long two-hit game. Zac Cook scored two runs and had a hit, with Quintin Rohrbaugh driving in two runs and Omar Salinas reaching on a first-inning single. Will Olson drew a pair of walks.

HOW THEY SCORED
The Mavs opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning, getting a leadoff walk from Cook to open the frame. Salinas singled with one out and Olson loaded the bases with a full-count walk. Rohrbaugh then worked a full-count walk to force home Cook for an early lead. Mitzel came on in relief and escaped the jam, thwarting a potential big inning for the Mavs.

Arkansas State rallied in the top of the second inning, getting a leadoff double from Alex Howard, with Jake Bakamus plunked by a two-strike pitch while attempting a sacrifice bunt. Jeremy Brown moved the runners into scoring position with a sac bunt and Derek Birginske singled into shallow leftfield to score Howard.

The Red Wolves took the lead in the top of the seventh inning, chasing Patterson. Brown led off with a single and was replaced at first base on a fielder's choice. Drew Tipton - who cranked a grand slam on Thursday - doubled down the line on a rocket shot off the chest of Brady Cox at third base, pushing Birginske to third. Grant Hawkins scored Birginske with a sac fly and Garrett Rucker singled into left-centerfield to give the Red Wolves a 3-1 lead. Schrimpf followed with a fly ball to rightfield but the ball was lost in the sun, allowing Rucker to motor from first base with two outs.

In the bottom of the eighth UTA mounted its best rally since the first inning. Cook and Williams led off with singles to place runners on the corners. After an out, Olson drew a walk to load the bases with one out. Rohrbaugh scored Cook with a sacrifice fly to left-centerfield, cutting the lead to 4-2.