TYLER, Texas—The University of Texas at Tyler (7-9) dropped a midweek matchup with Southwestern University (9-2) by a score of 8-2 Tuesday night at Irwin Field. It was the first home contest for the Patriots since an eight-game road trip that saw stops in Austin, Texas and central Florida.
 
The Patriots used their home field advantage early in the game, grabbing a 2-0 lead after the first inning. Sophomore outfielder Tanner Roach (Whitehouse, Texas) began the bottom of the first inning with a double to left center field. Both of the next two batters reached to load the bases with a passed ball scoring roach from third base. Then with two runners in scoring position, the UT Tyler starting pitcher and designated hitter senior Graham Welch (Plano, Texas) hit a sacrifice fly to plate senior infielder Blake Wilson (Midlothian, Texas).
 
Each team went down in order during the second and put a runner in scoring position in their half of the third. It was the Pirates who came up with a big inning in the top of the fourth. Four-consecutive Southwestern batters reached with two outs, giving the Pirates a 4-2 advantage.
 
Both teams put runners on in the fifth and sixth innings, but neither team could bring the runner around to score. Senior right-handed pitcher Turner Givens (Spring, Texas) recorded the last out of the fourth inning and struck out a pair in the fifth. Junior right-hander Ethan Cherry (Dallardsville, Texas) then came in to work the seventh inning and faced the minimum.  
 
In the top of the eighth inning, the first four Southwestern batters reached base, plating one run in the process. A bases loaded double later in the inning scored three more runs to give the Pirates an 8-2 lead after eight innings. UT Tyler loaded the bases in the home half of the eighth inning after a pair of walks and a single by junior outfielder Kolton Forsythe (Oak Ridge, Texas) but were unable to trim the deficit.
 
The Patriots threatened again in the in the ninth inning after Wilson doubled with one out and senior outfielder Josh Burns (Center, Texas) followed with a walk. Neither would come around to score with UT Tyler falling at home for the first time this season, 8-2.
 
Six different Patriot batters recorded a hit in the ballgame including Roach and Wilson who both recorded doubles. Welch took the loss on the mound after pitching the first 3.2 innings and surrendering five runs.
 
The Patriots will play in back-to-back days when they host Milliken University in an exhibition on Wednesday. The two teams are set to square off at Irwin Field beginning at 7 p.m.