TYLER, Texas—The University of Texas at Tyler Baseball (10-10) opened up a two-game midweek series with the University of Wisconsin-Platteville (3-7) Tuesday evening with a 10-1 victory at Irwin Field.
 
Both teams were retired in order during their half of the first inning. Senior outfielder Graham Welch (Plano, Texas) continued his tear at the plate during the second inning with his fifth homerun in the past four games. He sent the second pitch of the inning over the wall in right field just to the left of the foul pole for a solo blast.
 
With leadoff walks to begin both the third and fourth innings, UT Tyler added to the lead during the middle innings. Junior outfielder Zane Wilkinson (Keller, Texas) was walked to begin the inning before coming home on a sacrifice fly by junior (outfielder) Kolton Forsythe (Oak Ridge, Texas) In the fourth inning, senior outfielder Josh Burns (Center, Texas) was walked to begin the inning while a bunt single by senior infielder Henry Sanchez (San Antonio, Texas) scored the third Patriot run of the game. With UW-Plateville scoring a run in the top of the fourth, UT Tyler owned the 3-1 advantage after four full innings of play.
 
Adding another run in the bottom of the sixth, the leadoff batter reached again courtesy of a Burns double to left field. He advanced to third base when senior infielder Blake Maddox (Jacksonville, Texas) reached on a throwing error. Burns was brought home on a groundout by freshman infielder Zachary Sanchez (San Antonio, Texas) who was at the plate as a pinch hitter.
 
The Patriots doubled their lead in the seventh inning with three more runs coming around to score. All three runs came without any UT Tyler batters recording a hit as Forsythe was walked with one out. An error with Welch up to bat and Burns being hit by a pitch loaded the bases. Back-to-back wild pitches allowed two runs to score before a sacrifice fly by Maddox made it a 7-1 Patriot advantage.
 
UT Tyler did not let off the gas peddle in the bottom of the eighth with three more runs crossing home plate. After sophomore outfielder Tanner Roach (Whitehouse, Texas) was hit by a pitch with one out and stole second base, senior infielder Blake Wilson (Midlothian, Texas) singled to move Roach to third base. An RBI-single from Welch and a two-RBI double from Burns scored the three runs and gave the Patriots their 10-1 lead.
 
On the mound, junior left-handed pitcher Ethan Cherry (Dallardsville, Texas) got the start and pitched the first four innings. He allowed just three base runners and struck out three batters to move to 1-1 on the season with the win. Junior right-hander Turner Givens (Spring, Texas) pitched two innings of relief allowing just one baserunner. Freshman right-hander Zachary Fernandez (Tyler, Texas) and junior right-hander Blake Seagraves (Wylie, Texas) both pitched one inning while junior right-hander Austin Schneider (Keller, Texas) closed out the game in the ninth.
 
At the plate, Welch and Burns both finished the game with two hits and two runs-batted in. Forsythe, senior catcher Zach Pavelock (Iola, Texas) and Zachary Sanchez also drove in one run each.
 
The series will conclude Wednesday evening when the two teams meet at Irwin Field for a 7 p.m. first pitch.