LAWTON, Okla.—University of Texas at Tyler Baseball (1-1) dropped their first game of the regular season Friday afternoon to NCAA Division II opponent Cameron University (4-4).
 
The Patriots scored the first run of the contest on a single by senior outfielder Graham Welch (Plano, Texas) after a pair of batters were walked earlier in the inning. Junior outfielder Kolton Forsythe (Oak Ridge, Texas) scored the lone run of the inning after advancing to second on a wild pitch.
 
UT Tyler held their 1-0 advantage through the top of the fourth inning until Cameron plated three runs to take the lead. It would not last long as the Patriots added two more runs in the top of the fifth inning. Both runs came with two outs after senior outfielder Josh Burns (Center, Texas) doubled to left field followed by senior infielder Blake Wilson (Midlothian, Texas) reaching on an error. Back-to-back singles by senior infielder Bowie Farris (Denton, Texas) and senior infielder Brady Usherwood (Mansfield, Texas) would tie the game at three runs each.  
 
A leadoff double by Burns to begin the seventh helped the Patriots regain the lead with their fourth run of the game. After advancing to third on a Wilson sacrifice, Burns came around to score with Farris reaching on an error. In the bottom half of the inning, Cameron regained the lead, 6-4, with three runs of their own. The Aggies would add eight more in the bottom half of the eighth to seal a 14-4 victory.
 
Junior right-handed pitcher Keith Long (Plano, Texas) got the nod to start the game, eventually tossing 3.2 innings. He gave up three earned runs and stuck out one batter. Junior left-hander Ethan Cherry (Dallardsville, Texas) came in for relief and pitched 2.2 innings, while senior right-hander Turner Givens (Spring, Texas) and sophomore right-hander Colston Lloyd (Houston, Texas) also pitched in relief.
 
The series will continue Saturday with game-two scheduled for 3 p.m. On Sunday, the series will conclude with game-three set for a 1 p.m. first pitch.