TYLER, Tex.—University of Texas at Tyler Baseball (1-0, 0-0 ASC) earned a 4-0 victory over NCAA Division II opponents Henderson State University (3-3, 0-0 GAC) Tuesday evening at Irwin Field. The game marked the first for their Patriots since winning the 2018 NCAA Division II National Championship last May.
After a three-up, three-down top of the first inning, senior outfielder
Graham Welch (Plano, Texas) made Patriot history when he tripled to lead off the bottom half. With the 16
th triple of his, Welch took sole possession of the Patriots' career triples record breaking a tie with former UT Tyler baseball player Sam Lane.
The very next batter, senior outfielder
Josh Burns (Center, Texas) singled to drive Welch in as the first run of the game. The 1-0 Patriot lead would hold through two full innings with junior right-handed pitcher
Austin Schneider (Keller, Texas) allowing no hits and striking out five of his six batters faced.
Despite having two outs in the bottom of the third, senior infielder
Blake Wilson (Midlothian, Texas) reached on a walk before advancing to third and coming to home plate via a balk. In the home half of the fourth inning, junior outfielder
Kolten Forsythe (Oak Ridge, Texas) singled to lead off the inning. Two batters later, senior infielder
Henry Sanchez (San Antonio, Texas) singled to drive in the third Patriots runner of the game and bring in Forsythe.
UT Tyler added a fourth run in the sixth inning when sophomore outfielder
Tanner Roach (Whitehouse, Texas) walked with one out in the inning. He went on to steal second base before being brought home by a senior catcher
Zach Pavelock (Iola, Texas) single to right field two batters later. The run would be the final score of the game with the Patriots going on to claim the 4-0 victory.
Coming in to relieve Schneider, who earned the win, on the mound was freshman right-handed pitcher
Matthew McMillan (Pflugerville, Texas). He tossed three innings and struck out five Reddies with junior left-handed pitcher
Ethan Cherry (Dallardsville, Texas) also striking out a four over a pair of innings. The final two pitchers of the night were senior right-hander
Turner Givens (Spring, Texas) and Welch with both striking out two batters.
The Patriots will now travel to Lawton, Oklahoma to take on Cameron University for a three-game slate this weekend. Game one of the series is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Friday with Saturday's matchup also set for 7 p.m. The final game of the series will take place on Sunday at 1 p.m.
