Box Score WINTER HAVEN, Fla.—The University of Texas at Tyler Baseball (5-3) dropped their first of a five-game schedule in Florida Thursday evening, 11-3, to NCAA Division II opponent Davenport University (6-1).
 
Sophomore outfielder Tanner Roach (Whitehouse, Texas) and senior outfielder Josh Burns (Center, Texas) helped put the Patriots on top after the top of the first inning. Roach doubled to left field with one out and stole third base during the next at-bat. With runners on the corners, Burns sent a sacrifice fly to left field that allowed Roach to tag up and score the first run of the game. Davenport managed to tie the game in the bottom half of the first inning at one run each.
 
The Panthers went on a scoring frenzy from there, plating three runs in the second and third inning while also adding a pair in the fourth inning. Trailing 9-1, UT Tyler trimmed the lead with a run in the top of the fifth inning. Senior infielder Blake Wilson (Midlothian, Texas) and senior infielder Blake Maddox (Jacksonville, Texas) both walked to lead off the inning. Senior catcher Zach Pavelock (Iola, Texas) singled to right field allowing Wilson to score from second base. Davenport pushed their lead back to eight, 10-2 with a run in the bottom of the fifth.
 
Neither team could score a run in the sixth or seventh inning, but the Patriots again cut the lead to seven with a run in the top of the eighth. UT Tyler loaded the bases after a single by senior infielder Brady Usherwood (Mansfield, Texas) and two walks. With two outs and the bases loaded, junior infielder Blake Seagraves (Wylie, Texas) got a pinch hit at-bat. He drove in the third Patriot run after being hit by a pitch. Again, Davenport was able to match the score in the bottom half of the inning to make it 11-3.
 
Junior right-handed pitcher Austin Schneider (Keller, Texas) took the loss after getting the start while senor right-hander Tuner Givens (Spring, Texas) pitched two innings in relief of Schneider. Junior left-handed pitcher Ethan Cherry (Dallardsville, Texas) allowed just one hit in 1.2 innings of work and freshman right-hander Matthew Griffith (Magnolia, Texas) closed out the final three innings on the mound for the Patriots. He allowed just one hit and struck out two batters.
 
The Patriots are set for a pair of games against NCAA Division II opponents on Friday. They will begin the day against Northern State University at 11 a.m. before taking on Minnesota State University, Mankato at 3 p.m.