App State was unable to overcome a pair of big innings Thursday night, as they fell in the series opener to ULM, 12-3, at Smith Stadium.

ULM scored seven times in the third inning, with all of the runs coming on two-out hits to pull ahead, and never relinquished the lead. The Warhawks added four runs in the fifth inning to pull away.

App State (16-12, 6-4) plated the first run of the ballgame in the second. Golston Gillespie drew a walk to begin the inning, and after a single from CJ Boyd advanced him to third, Gillespie scored on a sac fly from Braxton Church to make it 1-0.

Following the seven-run top of the third inning, the Mountaineers got a run back in the bottom of the frame as Luke Drumheller scored on a wild pitch after reaching on a two-out walk.

Boyd capped the scoring with an opposite-field solo homer in the eighth inning, his fourth of the season. Boyd went 2-for-4 in the ballgame, joining Xavier Moronta who also had a two-hit game.

Dante Chirico and Jake Beaty combined to allow just one run over 4.1 innings in relief.

Cam Barlow picked up the win for ULM, allowing just three runs over 7.2 innings of work. Dalton Burrell finished out the ballgame for the Warhawks. The duo combined to get 21 of their 27 outs through the air.

Game two of the series is slated for 6 p.m. on Friday night as right-hander Bradley Wilson will make the start for the Mountaineers, opposite ULM lefty Hollis Huff. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.