WINTER HAVEN, Fla.—The University of Texas at Tyler Baseball (5-4) dropped a pair of games against NCAA Division II opponents Friday afternoon at the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational. A comeback bid fell short in their first game against Northern State University (0-1) with the Patriots falling, 5-4. In the second game, UT Tyler fell, 1-0, to Minnesota State University, Mankato.
 
Neither team was able to score in the first inning of game one against Northern St. with the Huskies going doing in order during the top of the first. The Patriots grabbed an early lead in the bottom of the second inning after senior outfielder Josh Burns (Center, Texas) led off with a double to left center. He was able to steal third base before being driven in on a single by senior infielder Brady Usherwood (Mansfield, Texas)
 
UT Tyler added to their lead in the bottom of the third inning. senior infielder Henry Sanchez (San Antonio, Texas) singled to right field as the first batter of the inning. He stole second base before advancing to third while a senior infielder Blake Wilson (Midlothian, Texas) single to right field scored Sanchez.
 
Already leading 2-0, the Patriots added another run in the bottom of the fifth inning. The first four batters of the inning reach base begging with Sanchez being hit by a pitch. After senior outfielder Graham Welch (Plano, Texas) reached on an error, sophomore outfielder Tanner Roach (Whitehouse, Texas) singled to load the bases. The fourth-consecutive batter to reach base was Wilson who singled to left field, plating the Patriots' third run of the game.
 
Neither team was able to score in the sixth inning, but the Northern State mounted their comeback in the seventh with a pair of runs. They added two more in the top of the eighth inning to take a 4-3 lead and pushed their lead to a pair of runs in the top of the ninth. Junior outfielder Kolton Forsythe (Oak Ridge, Texas) pinch hit in the bottom of the ninth. He his first home run of the season to pull the Patriots within one, but it would be their only run of the inning, falling 5-4.
 
Senior right-handed pitcher Nate Imig (Leander, Texas) took the loss on the mound after pitching 7.2 inning and striking out seven batters. Junior left-hander Max Page (Montgomery, Texas) tossed the final 1.1 innings in his fourth appearance of the season. Usherwood and Wilson both picked up a pair of hits to lead the Patriots with Wilson also picking up a pair of RBI's to lead the team.
 
In their second game of the day, The Patriots and Mavericks were locked in a defensive battle for most of the game. Through the first three innings, there was just one hit and two total base runners. The fourth began with a Roach double to left center, but he would eventually be stranded at third base.
 
The lone run of the game came in the bottom of the fourth inning when a Maverick batter singled to lead off the inning. A double later in in the inning drove in the run, giving Mankato the 1-0 lead. The Patriots would threaten that lead in the top of the seventh when Welch singled and stole second base to start the inning. With two out and Welch at first base, senior infielder Blake Maddox (Jacksonville, Texas) singled to put a runner in scoring position. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch but both would be stranded on the base paths.
 
Freshman right-handed pitcher Matthew McMillan (Pflugerville, Texas) came in to pitch the seventh and eighth innings. He struck out four of six batters faced to keep UT Tyler within a run of tying the game. Despite getting a runner on in the top of the ninth, the Patriots could not find a run, falling 1-0.
 
The Patriots will wrap up the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational Saturday afternoon with another doubleheader. They will take on a pair of NCAA Division II opponents in the University of the Sciences at 12:30 p.m. and Cedarville University at 4 p.m.