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ARLINGTON, Texas. - Texas State used two-run frames in the third and fourth to post a 5-2 win over UTA baseball in the series opener, on Thursday night at Clay Gould Ballpark.

UTA (21-31, 11-17 Sun Belt Conference) fell in a four-run hole after two-run frames in the third and fourth as Texas State (26-26-1, 14-14 Sun Belt) kicked off the final series of the regular season with the win.

Texas State used a strong pitching start and after plating two with two outs in the third, added two unearned runs in the fourth after a leadoff error. The Bobcats added a run in the ninth.

LEADING THE MAVS
Noah Vaughan led the UTA offense, cranking his 13th homer of the year with two outs in the seventh inning. It marked his 22nd career homer as he now ranks in the UTA career and single-season record holders.

UTA also got hits from Will Olson, RJ Williams, Phillip Childs and Christian Hollie.

ON THE MOUND
UTA starter Brad Vassar (2-7) worked 3.1 innings, allowing six hits and four runs - two earned - walking one over 53 pitches. Andrew Gross entered in a bases-loaded jam in the fourth and worked 4.2 shutout innings, allowing five hits and no walks, striking out four. Dylan Schneider worked the ninth.

Texas State starter Nicholas Fraze (6-4) worked six-shutout, two-hit innings, allowing just a walk and striking out two. Anthony Pagano opened the seventh in relief, working the 2.2 innings before giving way to Luke Sherley, who came in from shortstop to close the game, his second save of the year.

NEXT
The series will resume on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. CT at Clay Gould Ballpark. UTA will turn to junior righty Ka'ikepono Anderson (0-4,4.96 ERA) vs. Texas State junior righty Connor Reich (5-3, 3.72 ERA). The game will be broadcast live on UTAMavs.com, with the Voice of the Mavs, Josh Sours, calling the action.

HOW THEY SCORED
Texas State opened the scoring in the top of the third inning, getting a leadoff single from Ryan Newman, who took second on a groundout. Wesley Faison then singled into the gap to score Newman with one out. Luke Sherley then drove in a two-out run with a single through the left side, giving Texas State a 2-0 lead.

The Bobcats added on in the top of the fourth inning, getting a leadoff runner on after an error, with Dylan Paul following with a single. After a sac bunt and a walk loaded the bases, Dalton Shuffield doubled down the rightfield line to score a pair.

With two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning, Vaughan launched his 13th homer of the year, a line-drive shot over the rightfield fence.

A one-out double from Sherley led to a two-out RBI single from Derek Scheible in the ninth.

Childs led off the ninth with a single, scoring after a two-out RBI single from Williams.

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