TYLER, Texas—The University of Texas at Tyler Baseball (11-10) finished a two-game midweek sweep of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville (3-8) Tuesday evening with a 5-3 victory at Irwin Field.
 
After scoring just one run in the series opener, the Pioneers jumped out to an early lead with two runs in the top of the first inning. The Patriot answered with a run of their own in their first chance at the plate. Sophomore outfielder Tanner Roach (Whitehouse, Texas) singled to lead off the inning followed by senior infielder Blake Wilson (Midlothian, Texas) reaching on a bunt single. After Roach stole third base, senior outfielder Graham Welch (Plano, Texas) hit a sacrifice fly deep to left field to trim the Patriot deficit to a single run.
 
UT Tyler got some help in the top of the third inning after a one-out single to center field. He advanced to second base on a two-out walk to Welch. Senior outfielder Josh Burns (Center, Texas) went down on strikes but reached on a wild pitch which also allowed Wilson to score from second. The run tied the game at two runs each after three innings of play.
 
A scheduled bullpen day, freshman right-handed pitcher Kasey Williamson (Madisonville, Texas) worked the first three innings on the mound. After surrendering the two runs in the first inning, he allowed just two base runners combined in the second and third innings before being relieved by junior left-hander Max Page (Montgomery, Texas).  
 
With one out in the bottom of the fifth inning, junior outfielder Kolton Forsythe (Oak Ridge, Texas) was hit by the first pitch he faced. Welch followed with a single before Burns cleared the bases with a stand-up triple to left field. Senior infielder Blake Maddox (Jacksonville, Texas) sent the first pitch he saw into left field to plate the third Patriot run of the inning. UW-Platteville did get a run back in the sixth, but UT Tyler held on to a 5-3 lead after six innings of action.
 
In both the seventh and eighth innings, the Pioneers were able to get a runner into scoring position but could not trim the deficit. Page pitched the middle three innings and struck out six batters. He was responsible for just two base runners and one run. Freshman right-handers Tod McDowell (Bridge City, Texas) and Matthew McMillan (Pflugerville, Texas) each pitched a scoreless inning before Welch moved to the mound to close out the contest. He stuck out one batter to earn his first save of the season and give the Patriots a two-game sweep of UW-Platteville, 5-3.
 
At the plate, four Patriots recorded multiple hits Burns and Welch who did so for the second-consecutive night. Roach and Wilson also recorded a pair of hits while Burns led the way with a pair of runs-batted.
 
The Patriots will be back in action at Irwin Field this weekend when they host LeTourneau University for a three-game series. On Friday, the two teams square off at 7 p.m. for one game before playing a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m.