RICHARDSON, Texas—The University of Texas at Tyler Baseball (8-9) recorded a 12-3 victory over the University of Texas at Dallas (7-12) Friday afternoon to open a three-game series.
 
It was the Comets who scored the first run of the game after a two-run home run in the bottom of the second inning. Despite only getting one run back in the top of the third inning, senior infielder Blake Wilson (Midlothian, Texas) opened the floodgates for UT Tyler with a single to right field. The base hit drove in sophomore outfielder Tanner Roach (Whitehouse, Texas) who reached via a walk.
 
Adding another run in the top of the fourth, the Patriots tied the game courtesy of a solo home run by senior outfielder Graham Welch (Plano, Texas) His first long ball of the season went over the right field wall to make it a 2-2 ball game.
 
The scoring continued in the top of the fifth inning with four straight Patriots getting a hit to start the frame. Senior infielder Henry Sanchez (San Antonio, Texas) doubled to center field as the first batter of the inning before advancing to third base on a single by junior outfielder Zane Wilkinson (Keller, Texas) Singles by Roach and Wilson followed to plate a run each and give the Patriots a 4-2 advantage.
 
UT Tyler did not let up in the top of the fifth inning. Senior infielder Blake Maddox (Jacksonville, Texas) hit his first and the team's second homerun of the game for the Patriots to lead off the inning. The scoring did not stop there with Wilkinson adding a sacrifice fly and Roach recording anther RBI single to make it a 7-2 Patriot lead.
 
With UT Tyler not scoring in their half of the seventh, the Comets took advantage with a run of their own in the home half of the inning. It would be negated by a pair of Patriot runs in the eighth. Wilkinson came to the plate with two runners in scoring position and singled through the right side. Later in the inning, Wilkinson drove in another run with a base hit to right field and gave his team a 9-3 lead.
 
Plating some more insurance runs in the top of the ninth, the Patriots sent two pitches over the outfield wall. Welch hit his second home run of the game to lead off the inning, both were solo shots. After junior outfielder Kolton Forsythe (Oak Ridge, Texas) singled, Sanchez sent the ball over the fence in right field. His first home run of the season and the third of the ball game for the Patriots sealed the 12-3 victory.  
 
Senior right-handed pitcher Nate Imig (Leander, Texas) got the start on the mound for UT Tyler and lasted seven innings. It was his second outing of seven-plus innings this season while he moved to 1-2 after also striking out four Comet batters. Freshman right-hander Kasey Williamson (Madisonville, Texas) tossed the final two innings in his fourth appearance of the year.
 
At the plate, were led by Sanchez who went 4-5 at the plate with a pair of doubles and a home run. He also drove in two runs while Wilson led the team with three RBI's on the day. In total, Patriot batters totaled 17 hits.
 
Both teams return to action on Saturday for a doubleheader to end the series. The first game is set for a noon first pitch with the final game of the series scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.