MOBILE, Alabama – No. 2 UT Arlington remained in the winners' bracket of the 2014 Sun Belt Conference Championship with Thursday night's 7-3 victory over No. 6 Troy at Stanky Field in Mobile, Ala.

The Mavericks, winners of nine consecutive games, were rewarded with Friday off after their second consecutive victory in the tournament. UT Arlington (32-25) faces Friday's Troy/Arkansas State winner on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. CT.

Matt Shortall launched a three-run home run in the first inning and starter Zach Thompson (5-4) earned the win, rebounding after a rough first inning to find his groove. The junior right-hander went five consecutive scoreless frames and worked 7.2 innings, allowing two runs on four hits and a walk while striking out eight.

The Mavericks didn't waste any time as the visiting team to get on the board against Trojans starter Tanner Hicks. Darien McLemore singled to center and Ryan Bottger reached after a Troy error at third. Shortall then emptied the bases with a homer to left-center, his 10th homer of the season. The round-tripper was the 24th career UTA home run for the senior designated hitter.

Thompson and the Mavericks gave a run back in the bottom of the inning. Troy (25-31) took advantage of a hit batter, single, sac bunt and an error to push a run across, cutting UTA's lead to 3-1.

UTA added two more runs in the sixth on three hits for a 5-1 lead. Eric Tate started the rally with a one-out double down the left field line and moved to third on Travis Sibley's single to right. Derek Miller's sacrifice fly scored Tate and Sibley came home on McLemore's single.

McLemore and Sibley each finished with three of the Mavericks' 12 hits. UTA relievers Keegan Hucul and Chad Nack recorded the final four outs for the Mavericks.