TYLER, Texas—The University of Texas at Tyler (27-2) opened their three-game series with 16-0 shutout over Howard Payne University (13-17) Thursday evening at Suddenlink Field.
 
Runs came in steadily for the Patriots from the start of the game. UT Tyler plated a pair of runs in the first inning before adding six more in the second. Senior outfielder Nicole Garcia (Sugar Land, Texas) began the bottom of the first with a leadoff double down the left field line. She came around to score on a double to right field courtesy of sophomore catcher Ashley Perez (Pflugerville, Texas) for the first run of the game. Perez came around to score later in the inning when senior infielder Serena Saldivar (Garland, Texas) hit a base knock to right field.
 
All six Patriot runs in the second inning crossed with two outs. After the first two batters were retired, Garcia kept the inning alive with an infield single before stealing second base. She was driven home by senior infielder Victoria Gonzales (Elgin, Texas) who doubled down the line in right field and then Perez singled up the middle to score another. The next two batters reached on a single to load the bases before senior utility Lynsey Mitchell (Liberty Hill, Texas) crushed a grand slam over the wall in left field. The long ball hit more than half way up the video board which sits just beyond the wall. Her third homer of the season gave UT Tyler an 8-0 advantage heading into the third inning.
 
UT Tyler doubled their score in the third inning with eight more runs crossing home plate. The leadoff batter reached again with sophomore outfielder Shae Harris (Brenham, Texas) sending the ball back up the middle. Garcia and Victoria Gonzales both followed with a single, the latter of which drove in another run. Both the next two batters drove in runs with Perez getting an RBI-double to center field and senior infielder Theresa Gonzales (Elgin, Texas) smashing her team-leading fifth homerun of the season to left center field. The long ball scored two more runs while sophomore infielder Mak Dominguez (Austin, Texas) drove in two more with a double to right field later in the inning. With two outs, freshman infielder Chaney Tart (Malakoff, Texas) singled through the right side giving the Patriots thier 16-0 lead.
 
Senior left-handed pitcher Colleen Bentke (Brenham, Texas) allowed a bunt single in the first inning but then retired the next six batter she faced. She finished her outing after three innings of work but did later pick up her 15^th win of the season. Freshman right-hander Payton Foster (Lufkin, Texas) pitched the fourth inning for her fourth appearance of the season, while senior right-hander Sam Junkin (Hunt, Texas) retired all three batters she faced in the top of the fifth inning to seal the 16-0 shutout.
 
Offensively, the Patriots were led by four batters that recordrd three hits each including Theresa Gonzales with her three-run homer. Garcia, Perez, and Saldivar also recorded three hits while Victoria Gonzales and senior outfielder Dariann Resendez (Austin, Texas) picked up a pair of hits each.
 
The three-game series between the two teams will come to a close on Friday with a doubleheader scheduled for 2 p.m.