ALPINE, Texas—The University of Texas at Tyler Baseball (23-15) earned a victory in their season ending three-game series at Sul Ross State University (17-20) over the weekend. After dropping the series opener, 19-12, the Patriots rebounded for a 14-2 victory to open a doubleheader on Saturday and dropped the final contest, 18-7.
 
It took three innings for the Patriot bats to get warmed up while Sul Ross was able to jump out to an early lead with four runs in the bottom of the first inning. The first UT Tyler run scored after junior outfielder Zane Wilkinson (Keller, Texas) singled to lead off the first inning. He was later brought home on a sacrifice fly by sophomore infielder Tanner Roach (Whitehouse, Texas). The Patriots scored two more in the top of the fourth on a bases loaded walk and fielder's choice that both plated a run to make trim the deficit to one run after four innings.
 
A four-run bottom of the fourth for the Lobos pushed the Patriot deficit up to five runs, but UT Tyler wasted little time beginning their comeback bid. Senior infielder Blake Wilson (Midlothian, Texas) doubled to lead off the inning before a single from senior outfielder Josh Burns (Center, Texas) scored Wilson from second. Senior outfielder Graham Welch (Plano, Texas) then drove in another run with a double of his own. Freshman infielder Zachary Sanchez (San Antonio, Texas) recorded the fourth hit of the inning and cut the deficit to a pair with an RBI-single of his own.
 
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Sul Ross added another run to take a 9-6 lead, but UT Tyler took their first lead of the game in the top of the seventh inning. Three straight Patriots singled with one out before senior catcher Zach Pavelock (Iola, Texas) drove in three runs with a triple to tie the ball game at nine runs each. Wilkinson put UT Tyler on top with a sacrifice fly to right field which made it a 10-9 Patriot lead.
 
Sul Ross tied the game during the next half inning, but the Patriot regained the lead in the top of the eighth when Welch sent a sacrifice fly into center field. The Lobos broke the game open in the bottom of the eighth with nine runs. An RBI-double by Pavelock in the top of the ninth would be where the Patriot comeback ended as they fell, 19-12, to open the series.
 
On the mound, junior right-hander Austin Schneider (Keller, Texas) got the start and struck out nine batters of 6.2 innings of work. Freshman right-hander Tod McDowell (Bridge City, Texas) pitched the final inning for the Patriots.
 
The Patriot offense stuck around for game-two runs scoring in each of the first three innings. Welch recorded an RBI single in the top of the first to give UT Tyler the early lead. In the second inning, Roach drove in a run with a base hit to left field. It was senior infielder Blake Maddox (Jacksonville, Texas) who earned the RBI-single in the third inning while another run scored on a Lobo error to give the Patriots a 4-0 advantage after three innings.
 
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Sul Ross got one run back, but UT Tyler answered with seven runs in the top of the fifth. Zachary Sanchez recorded a bases-loaded single to advance each runner one base before senior infielder Henry Sanchez (San Antonio, Texas) cleared the bases with a triple to plate three more runs. After Wilkinson added an RBI on a ground out, Wilson sent a two-run homerun over the right field wall for his first long ball of the season. The blast put the Patriots on top, 11-1, after five innings.
 
After Sul Ross plated a run in the bottom of the sixth, UT Tyler added three insurance runs in the top of the seventh. The first run of the inning scored on an error with junior outfielder Kolton Forsythe (Oak Ridge, Texas) at the plate. Welch then followed with a two-RBI triple down the right field line to give the Patriots their 14-2 advantage and eventual win.
 
Senior right-hander Nate Imig (Leander) tossed all seven innings and moved to 6-2 on the season with the win. He allowed just two runs on five hits and eight strikeouts to finish his collegiate career.
 
UT Tyler managed to jump out to another early lead in the series finale courtesy of a single to right center field by Welch in the top of the first inning. That run would be matched by the Lobos in the bottom of the first before Sul Ross took a 5-1 advantage after the second inning.
 
A leadoff triple by Roach to lead off the top of the third helped the Patriots trim their deficit. Wilson followed with a triple of his own before Burns doubled down the left field line with both hits plating one run. After Welch was walked, Maddox reached on a fielder's choice that plated a fourth UT Tyler run.
 
The Patriots regained the lead in the top of the fourth inning. Wilson stepped into the box with two runners in scoring position and sent a single back to the pitcher that scored one run. A throwing error on the play allowed another Patriot run to score and gave UT Tyler a 6-5 lead. Each team picked up another run over their next half inning at the plate. The Lobos tied the game in the bottom of the fourth inning before Henry Sanchez sent his fourth homerun of the season over the right field wall. The solo shot made it a 7-6 UT Tyler lead.
 
Five runs for Sul Ross in the bottom of the fifth inning broke the game open with the Lobos going on to score seven more runs before the game's end. UT Tyler was unable to score the rest of the way dropping the series and season finale, 18-7 in eight innings.
 
Freshman right-hander Kasey Williamson (Madisonville, Texas) got the start and pitched the first two innings before McDowell came to the mound. He tossed 2.2 innings and took the loss with sophomore right-hander Christian Reeves (Brownsboro, Texas) senior right-hander Turner Givens (Sprint, Texas), and sophomore right-hander Brandon Rossiter (Whitehouse, Texas) pitching the final three combined innings.
 
With the season coming to a close, UT Tyler will compete in the Lone Star Conference next season as they continue their transition to NCAA Division II status.