WINTER HAVEN, Fla.—The University of Texas at Tyler Baseball (7-5) won their final two games of their five-game trip to Florida with both wins coming over NCAA Division II opponents. They day began with a 7-6 victory over the University of the Sciences (1-4) before the Patriots defeated Cedarville University (2-3) by a score of 7-3.
 
In the first game of the day against the Devils, UT Tyler jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the second inning. Four straight batters reached base including back to back singles by senior infielder Blake Wilson (Midlothian, Texas) and senior infielder Blake Maddox (Jacksonville, Texas). Both Patriots scored on an error with senior infielder Brady Usherwood (Mansfield, Texas) at the plate.
 
The lead would not last long, though, with the Devils scoring three runs of their own in the top of the third inning to take a 3-2 advantage. UT Tyler answered back in the home half of the inning when four runs came around to score. With two outs and runners on the corners, Maddox singled to plate the first run and tie the game at three. Usherwood singled in the next at-bat to put the Patriots back on top while a double from sophomore catcher Caden Ledbetter (Cibalo, Texas) cleared the bases and made it a 6-3 lead.
 
Junior right-handed pitcher Turner Givens (Spring, Texas) relieved senior left-handed starter Graham Welch (Plano, Texas) in the top of the fifth inning. He came in facing a jam with two runners on and no outs, but he minimized the damage with two runs coming around to score. Tuner struck out two batters in the top of the fifth and finished his outing after two innings with three strikeouts and no runs charged.
 
Pitching the final three innings for UT Tyler was freshman right-hander Zachary Fernandez (Tyler, Texas). He struck out two Devil batters in the seventh inning and retired them in order in the eighth. In the top of the ninth inning, Sciences was able to tie the game at six runs each. Despite getting the bases loaded with just one out, Fernandez allowed just one run and gave the Patriots a chance to walk off in the bottom of the ninth.
 
Sophomore outfielder Tanner Roach (Whitehouse, Texas) and Welch both reached on walks to begin the home half of the ninth inning. A fielder's choice then put runners on the corner with one and Wilson at the plate. He smacked a double that allowed Welch to score and give the Patriots a 7-6 win. The hit gave Wilson a game-high three hits and secured a win for Fernandez, his first of the season.
 
In the second game of the day against Cedarville, neither team was able to score in the first three innings highlighted by a strong start from freshman right-hander Kasey Williamson (Madisonville, Texas). He pitched the first 3.2 innings and did not allow a hit to the Yellowjacket lineup. He struck out six of his 15 batters faced in his second start of the season.
 
The Patriots broke the scoreless tie in the top of the fourth inning junior outfielder Kolton Forsythe (Oak Ridge, Texas) crossing home plate. He reached on a walk and advanced to third on a doubled to left field from senior Wilson. With runners on the corners, senior infielder Maddox singled to center to plate Forsythe for the first run of the game.
 
Cedarville scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a 3-1 advantage but UT Tyler tied the ball game in the top of the fifth inning. Senior outfielder Josh Burns (Center, Texas) singled in the inning and Roach walked to reach base. After advancing to second and third base, Forsythe singled to left field allowing both runners to score.
 
Over the next three innings, neither team could plate a run to take the lead despite both teams getting a runner to third base in the sixth inning. That changed in the top of the ninth inning with the first four Patriot batters reaching base. Burns led off the inning with a double to center field before Roach reached on a bunt single.
 
With runners on the corner, senior outfielder Welch triple to right field and put UT Tyler ahead, 5-3. Welch then scored the third run of the inning on a passed ball. Forsythe reached base on a walk and eventually made it to third base. He was brought home on a single to center by freshman infielder Zachary Sanchez (San Antonio, Texas) to give the Patriots a 7-3 lead.
 
Junior right-hander Austin Schneider (Keller, Texas) came in to close out the ninth inning on the mound. He struck out two Yellowjacket batters and stranded two more to seal the 7-3 victory. Junior left-hander Max Page (Montgomery, Texas) also pitched 1.1 innings in relief while freshman right-hander Matthew McMillan (Pflugerville, Texas) pitched two innings and picked up the victory to move to 2-0 on the season.
 
Offensively, four Patriots batters recorded multiple hits including Forsythe who reached base in all five at bats with two hits and three walks. He and Welch led the team with two RBI's each.
 
The Patriots will return to American Southwest Conference action next weekend when they travel to Austin, Texas for three games against Concordia University. The series will begin with a doubleheader at 4 p.m. on Friday and will finish with the final game at 1 p.m. on Saturday.