CONWAY, Ark. _ The UT Arlington Mavericks rode a third-inning grand slam to a 9-1 victory over the University of Central Arkansas Bears in first-round action Wednesday night in a rain-delayed Postseason National Invitational Softball Championship game at Farris Field.

The Mavericks (28-26) scored six runs in the decisive third inning, breaking a scoreless tie and sending UTA into a winner's bracket matchup with Texas Tech at 3 p.m. Thursday. UCA (28-26) will face fellow Southland Conference foe Stephen F. Austin in an elimination game at noon Thursday. SFA lost 1-0 to Texas Tech in the early game Wednesday.

The Bears, trailing 6-0 as the visiting team, picked up a run in the top of the fourth inning when Kayla Crutchmer singled, went to second when Morgan Felts was hit by a pitch. A double steal moved up both runners before Kate Myers singled to third base to score Felts.

However, the Mavericks answered with three more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, with two base hits and a pair of UCA errors. The Bears failed to score in the top of the fifth, invoking the run rule.

UTA starter JoJo Valencia (11-15) allowed six hits but only one run with two walks to earn the victory. UCA starter Kailla Searcy (6-7) took the loss, allowing just one earned run in 2 2/3 innings. Junior second baseman Libby Morris went 2 for 3 for the Bears, while Crutchmer was 2 for 2. Sandra Mendoza finished 2 for 3 and scored twice for the Mavericks, while center fielder Laura Curry provided the big blow with the grand slam.