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LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Little Rock plated three runs in the second inning and got a strong starting pitching performance from Chandler Fidel, leading the Trojans to a 5-1 win over UTA baseball to open the three-game series, on Friday night at Gary Hogan Field.

UTA (10-10, 3-1 Sun Belt) fell behind early to Little Rock (12-9, 3-1 Sun Belt) as the Trojans plate three on five hits in the second inning and took a 4-1 lead after thee innings, with UTA getting on the board behind a solo jack from Omar Salinas.

LEADING THE MAVS
Salinas, a native of Arlington, Texas, ripped his first homer of the year and the 12th of his two-year career, part of a two-hit game. The Mavs also got hits from RJ Williams, Christian Hollie and Josh Minajrez, with Minjarez ripping his third double of the year.

ON THE MOUND
UTA senior southpaw Brad Vassar (2-2) worked 2.1 innings, allowing eight hits and four runs, throwing 47 pitches. After three singles and one out in the third, the Mavs turned to righty Tristan Tom in relief, who stranded a pair in the frame. Tom worked a career-long 1.2 innings, allowing a hit and two walks, striking out one. After the leadoff hitter singled to open the fifth, Dylan Schneider trotted in from the bullpen. Schneider worked a season-long three shutout innings, allowing two hits and a walk, striking out three. Drew Gooch worked the eighth inning.

Fidel (3-2) worked seven innings, allowing six hits and one run, walking one and striking out nine. With a three-run lead to open the eighth, Donavin Buck came on in relief and Justin Garcia came on in the ninth.

NEXT
The series will resume on Saturday at 2 p.m. CT at Gary Hogan Field. UTA will start senior righty Trae Patterson (0-1, 7.56 ERA) vs. Little Rock senior southpaw Cole Townsend (3-0, 1.80 ERA).

HOW THEY SCORED
Salinas gave the Mavs the lead in the top of the second, launching a 2-1 pitch over the rightfield fence for his first homer of the year and the 12th of his career.

Little Rock immediately answered, getting leadoff doubles to open the inning, with an infield single forcing in the first Little Rock run of the game. An infield single then loaded the bases with no outs. James Gann then scored a second run for the Trojans with a fly ball to rightfield, moving runners to the corners with one out. A push bunt single stretched the lead to 3-1 with one out.

The Trojans added on in the bottom of the third inning, getting three singles amongst four hitters to open the frame, taking a 4-1 lead.

A pair of infield hits and a double led to a two-out run in the eighth inning.