Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 TYLER, Texas—The University of Texas at Tyler Baseball (19-12) began their Homecoming and Clements Fluids Alumni Weekend with a doubleheader sweep of the University of the Ozarks (12-20) Friday afternoon at Irwin Field. The Patriots opened the day with a 6-0 shutout before fending off a late Eagles comeback in the second game to seal the sweep with a 5-2 win.
 
It was a quick start to the game for both teams with no baserunners for either squad until the bottom of the third. Senior right-handed pitcher Nate Imig (Leander, Texas) got the start for the Patriots and struck out a batter in the first and third inning.
 
Senior infielder Henry Sanchez (San Antonio, Texas) became the first baserunner of the game when he sent a double into left field as the leadoff batter. A one-out double by junior outfielder Zane Wilkinson (Keller, Texas) plated Sanchez for the game's first run. Sophomore outfielder Tanner Roach (Whitehouse, Texas) and senior infielder Blake Wilson (Midlothian, Texas) followed with back-to-back RBI-singles which put the Patriots on top, 3-0, heading into the fourth inning.
 
Back out to work the top of the fourth, Imig sat down the Eagles in order once again and went on to retire the first 13 batters of the game with an out to begin the top of the fifth inning. He would go on to retire the next two batters after allowing the first UO hit of the ball game which allowed the Patriots to add to their lead in the home half of the fifth.
 
Wilkinson picked up a triple with one out in the inning before Roach was hit by a pitch to put runners on the corners. Roach went on to steal second base prior to Wilson plating both base runners with a single back up the middle. Senior outfielder Graham Welch (Plano, Texas) made it a three-run inning when he sent and RBI-double down the right field line to score Wilson from second base to give UT Tyler their 6-0 lead.
 
Neither team would score the rest of the way with the Patriots holding on for the 6-0 victory. Imig sat down the Eagles in order for the fifth time during the sixth inning. He did allow one more hit in the top of the seventh but stranded that runner on the base paths to seal the win to start the day. Imig moved to 4-2 on the season with his second straight seven-inning complete game. He struck out three and faced just two batters over the minimum.
 
At the plate, Wilson and Wilkinson each picked up a pair of hits while Wilson had a game-high two RBI's. Wilkinson also drove in a run while Welch had the game's final RBI in the fifth inning.
 
The second game of the doubleheader got off to a much faster start with UT Tyler jumping out to an early lead. Roach led off the inning with a single through the left side before stealing second base. He later stole third base after Wilson was walked on four straight pitches. With one out and two runners in scoring position, Welch sent a shot through the right side to drive in one the game's first run.
 
UT Tyler continued to score in the bottom of the second inning after the first two batters reached base. Sanchez reached on an error before senior catcher Zach Pavelock (Iola, Texas) singled to center field. Roach was the one to drive the run in with a double down the left field line to make it a 2-0 Patriot lead after two full innings.
 
Junior right-hander Austin Schneider (Keller, Texas) retired the Ozarks in order during the third inning and again in the fifth inning. He faced just three over the minimum through his first six innings on the mound. By keeping the Eagle bats at bay, he allowed the Patriot offense to add to their lead in the bottom of the sixth.
 
An error by the opposing pitcher allowed Sanchez to score who reached base on a double earlier in the inning. Wilkinson went to second on the play after he was walked to reach base. He came around to score courtesy of a double to left field by Roach which made it a 4-0 lead for UT Tyler.
 
Senior outfielder Josh Burns (Center, Texas) began the bottom of the seventh with some power when he sent the ball past the left field wall. It was his fourth homerun of the season and it gave the Patriots some insurance with the Eagles preparing to mount a comeback bid.
 
Three straight UO batters reached with one out in the top of the eighth inning with two runs coming around to score. Freshman right-hander Tod McDowell (Bridge City, Texas) entered the game in relief to record the final two outs of the inning and end the comeback attempt. Fellow freshman right-hander Matthew McMillan (Pflugerville, Texas) pitched the top of the ninth inning for the Patriots and sat down the batters in order to secure the 5-2 victory and doubleheader sweep.
 
Schneider moved to 6-2 on the season after 7.1 shutout innings on the mound. He also struck out eight batters while allowing just two runs on six hits. McMillan recorded his second save of the year when he pitched a perfect ninth inning. Offensively, Roach led the Patriots with a 3-5 day at the plate with a run scored and two more driven in. Welch, Sanchez, and Pavelock also picked up a pair of hits each.
 
The Patriots will look for their second straight series sweep on Saturday when they host the Ozarks in the series finale scheduled for 1 p.m.