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LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Four UTA sluggers belted home runs - including the first career homers from Zac Cook and David Renning - as the Mavericks pounded out 15 runs on 20 hits in a 15-13 win at Little Rock to even the three-game series, on Saturday afternoon at Gary Hogan Field.

UTA (11-10, 4-1 Sun Belt) set season highs in hits, homers and runs in the pasting of Little Rock (12-10, 3-2 Sun Belt) to even the three-game series and set up a rubber match on Sunday. The Mavs scored seven runs in the first four innings and used a grand slam in the seventh to plate five and take an imposing advantage.

LEADING THE MAVS
Sophomore Zac Cook and senior Christian Hollie had career days at the dish for the Mavericks. Cook drove in a career-high six as part of a 4-for-5 game with a double and grand slam. Hollie was 3-for-7 with four RBI, a double and his second homer of the year.

Noah Vaughan had a pair of knocks, including his sixth homer of the year, and freshman David Renning cranked his first career homer and double. UTA also got a two-hit game from Omar Salinas, Josh Minjarez and Will Olson, with RJ Williams and Aaron Funk each notching hits. Williams and Funk each had a stolen base, with Williams drawing two walks.

ON THE MOUND
UTA starter Trae Patterson (1-1) worked 5.1 innings, allowing five runs on seven hits, not issuing a walk and striking out three. After a two-run homer in the sixth, UTA called on Logan Austin in relief. Austin worked two innings, allowing a pair of runs before Andrew Gross took over in the eighth and recorded the four outs, before giving way to Daniel James. James got the final out of the game for his 18th career save and second of 2018.

Little Rock starter Cole Townsend (3-1) worked two-plus innings, allowing five hits and four runs, walking one. Paulo Ortiz came on in relief in the third inning and Little Rock also used Aaron Funk, Carter Brown, Justin Garcia, McKinley Moore, Cody Daylor and Zach Ours worked in relief.

NEXT
The series will conclude on Sunday at 1 p.m. CT at Gary Hogan Field. UTA will start junior righty Ka'ikpeono Anderson (0-1, 8.05 ERA) vs. Little Rock junior southpaw Ethan Dailly (0-0, 0.93 ERA).

HOW THEY SCORED
The Mavs got on the board in the top of the first inning, as Williams drew a one-out walk and stole second base. After a second out, Hollie launched his second homer of the year over the leftfield fence, giving UTA a 2-0 lead.

Little Rock answered in the bottom of the first inning, getting a two-run homer from Matt Merino, who scored Riley Pittman, who reached on a one-out single.

The Mavs struck for the lead in the top of the second, as Renning launched his first career homer, a no-doubt blast over the leftfield fence, giving UTA a 3-2 lead.

Little Rock answered in the bottom of their second inning, getting one-out singles from James Gann and Nick Perez. Ryan Benevidez then singled off the wall in leftfield, scoring Gann.

Vaughan gave the Mavs the lead with a solo jack hit out to dead centerfield from Vaughan, his sixth of the year.

UTA rallied in the top of the fourth inning, getting a hard-hit single through the infield from Minjarez. Renning then drilled a double down the leftfield line, pushing Minjarez to third to open the frame. Funk then fought off a two-strike pitch to ground the ball to second base, scoring Minjarez. Cook then laced a RBI double down the rightfield line, scoring Renning for a three-run lead. After a Williams walk and a second out, Hollie lined a RBI single into rightfield, scoring Cook.

Troy Alexander hit his fifth homer of the year in the sixth inning to cut the lead to 7-5 in the bottom of the sixth.

UTA broke open the game in the seventh inning against Little Rock's top reliever. Minjarez and Renning led off by reaching, with Renning drawing his first career walk and Minjarez singling to left. After a pitching chance, Funk laid down a perfect bunt single to load the bases for Cook. Cook drilled a 2-1 offering over the rightfield fence, his first career homer and the first grand slam of the year for the Mavs. Williams then dropped a double into rightfield and Vaughan singled to left. Hollie followed and pounded a first-pitch double off the wall in leftfield to score Williams.

Gann hit a solo homer to lead off the bottom of the seventh inning, his first homer of the year and three straight singles scored a second run in the frame.

Olson led off the ninth with a walk and Salinas doubled to rightfield. Minjarez then hung a sac fly and Salinas scored on a Renning single to left. Cook reached on his fourth hit of the game and scored on a wild pitch.

Little Rock's Ryan Benevidez hit a homer to leadoff the bottom of the ninth and a runner was balked in with two outs. A two-run double, RBI single and RBI double plated 13 runs for Little Rock.

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