ALPINE, Texas—The University of Texas at Tyler Softball (19-2) dominated in the circle and at the plate during a doubleheader sweep of Sul Ross State University (8-12) on Friday afternoon. The Patriots shutout the Lobos, 1-0, to open the day before their bats came alive in a 13-1 victory.
 
Each team put a runner in scoring position during the first two inning of play, but neither team was able to break the scoreless tie. In the third inning, the Patriots plated the lone run of the game after sophomore outfielder Haleigh Swinney (Crosby, Texas) was walked to lead off the inning. After stealing second base, she advanced to third on a single to center field by senior infielder Victoria Gonzales (Elgin, Texas). It was a sacrifice fly to center field by sophomore catcher Ashley Perez (Pflugerville, Texas) that allowed Sweeny to score the games only run.
 
Senior left-handed pitcher Colleen Bentke (Brenham, Texas) got the start in the circle for the Patriots. She did not allow a hit in the third or fourth innings. The first Sul Ross St. base hit did not come until the leadoff batter in the fifth inning. Despite that batter getting on base to begin the frame, junior right-hander Miranda Leal (San Antonio, Texas) came in and stranded the runner and two more to escape the jam.
 
After getting out of another jam in the bottom of the sixth with two runners on, Leal retired the Lobos in order during the bottom of the seventh. While securing a win for Bentke who moved to 9-2 on the season, Leal picked up her fifth save of the season and 10^th of her career. Already with the Patriot career record, she now owns the American Southwest conference career record in the category.
 
The second game was all offense and it started early with the Patriots plating four runs in the top of the first inning. The first four batters of the inning reached to start the game highlighted by a Perez RBI-single and a double by senior infielder Theresa Gonzales (Elgin, Texas) that plated another. Freshman infielder Chaney Tart (Malakoff, Texas) followed with a sacrifice fly to plate another run while senior infielder Serena Saldivar (Garland, Texas) singled through the right side to give the Patriots a 4-0 advantage.
 
Just one Lobo reached base in the first two innings before UT Tyler could double their runs in the top of the third. Perez began the inning with a homerun to center field for her second long ball of the season. The next five Patriots also reached base with sophomore infielder Mak Dominguez (Austin, Texas) driving in a run with her base hit along with senior outfielder Dariann Resendez (Austin, Texas) also recording an RBI-single. Swinney plated the eight Patriot run of the ball game with her sacrifice fly to center field that brought home Saldivar.
 
Sul Ross St. got back one run in the bottom of the third inning, but the Patriots again added to the lead in the top of the fifth inning. With the bases loaded, Victoria Gonzales doubled to center field and brought home a pair of runs. Perez followed with a base knock up the middle allowing senior outfielder Nicole Garcia (Sugar Land, Texas) to score. The final runs came home on a double to left field by Tart to make it a 13-1 Patriot lead.
 
Despite the leadoff batter reaching for the Lobos, junior utility Whitney Romero (Lafayette, Louisiana) retired the next three batters to seal the complete game victory. She pitched all five innings, facing just five batters over the minimum, to move to 8-0 on the season.
 
Offensively, the Patriots were led by Perez in the second game who went 4-4 at the plate and drove in three runs. She was also responsible for scoring three runs of her own. Theresa Gonzales and Saldivar also picked up a pair of hits while tart set a career-high with three runs-bated in.
 
The series will come to a close on Saturday when the two teams meet at noon.