FORT SMITH, Ark. - University of Arkansas - Fort Smith Baseball split its doubleheader with No. 4 West Texas A&M Friday, taking game one, 5-3, before dropping the nightcap, 18-1.

The series will conclude Saturday with a single game starting at 1 p.m.

UAFS 5, West Texas A&M 3

Catcher Nico Patrick hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth inning to give the Lions a come from behind win.

Infielder Jordon Helm led off the bottom of the sixth with a walk before the next two batters went down in order. Patrick then drove the first pitch he saw over the right field fence to put the Lions ahead, 5-3.

Logan Grant then came on in relief in the seventh to shut the door for his second save of the season. Brayden Ross earned the win after tossing six-plus innings. He allowed three runs on seven hits while striking out four.

Trailing 3-0 in the bottom of the third, the Lions plated a run without a hit by virtue of three hit by pitches and a walk. UAFS added one more in the fourth on another bases loaded walk before tying the game at 3-3 in the fifth on a sacrifice fly by infielder Noah Davis.

West Texas A&M 18, UAFS 1

The Buffs scored at least three runs in each of the final four innings as they came back to split the day.

Infielder Cayden Burch tallied the lone run for the Lions with his first career home run in the bottom of the seventh after entering the game as a defensive replacement. Michael Brinton had the other hit for the Lions with a double in the first.

Riley Lowry started on the mound for the Lions, allowing five runs on four hits over 3.1 innings with three strikeouts.