JACKSON, Miss.—The University of Texas at Tyler Baseball (15-12) opened a three-game slate at Belhaven University (9-22) with a pair of commanding wins. UT Tyler won the seven-inning opener, 7-1, before defeating the Blazers in the second game, 11-1, in eight innings.
 
The Patriots got a runner on base to begin the contest, but the next three batters were retired to send it to the bottom of the first inning. Belhaven took advantage of the stranded UT Tyler baserunner by scoring the first run of the contest in the home half of the inning.
 
For the second-consecutive inning, the Patriots got the leadoff batter on via a walk. Senior infielder Blake Maddox (Jacksonville, Texas) advanced to third on back-to-back ground outs before catcher Zach Pavelock (Iola, Texas) singled to right center to tie the game. After stealing second base, Pavelock scored on a double by junior outfielder Zane Wilkinson (Keller, Texas) and gave the Patriots a 2-1 advantage.
 
Senior outfielder Josh Burns (Center, Texas) put UT Tyler up a pair with a solo homerun in the top of the third inning. His second long ball of the season put the Patriots on top, 3-1, while senior right-handed pitcher Nate Imig (Leander, Texas) shutdown the Blazers over the next three innings. He retired the next nine batters, giving the Patriots a chance to increase their lead later in the ball game.
 
Junior outfielder Kolton Forsythe (Oak Ridge, Texas) was walked to start the top of the seventh inning and later scored after back-to-back singles by Pavelock and Wilkinson. With sophomore outfielder Tanner Roach (Whitehouse, Texas) reaching on a fielder's choice, both Pavelock and Wilkins came around to score two more runs for the Patriots. Burns gave UT Tyler their 7-1 lead with a triple to right center field that plated Roach.
 
With Imig on the mound, Belhaven was unable to extend the game in the shortened seven-inning opener of the doubleheader. He pitched all seven innings for his second complete game of the season and earned his third victory.
 
Offensively, Burns led the Patriots at the plate going 3-4 with two runs batted in and two more runs scored. Pavelock and Wilkinson also recorded multiple hits with each going 2-3 at the plate.
 
In the second game of the doubleheader, neither team could score in the first two innings despite both teams putting a runner in scoring position early. The slow start ended in the top of the third with the Patriots putting three runs on the scoreboard. It started with a Pavelock single to begin the inning with he and Wilkinson scoring on a single to center field by senior infielder Blake Wilson (Midlothian, Texas). With senior outfielder Graham Welch (Plano, Texas) sending a base hit into right field later in the inning, Wilson would score to put UT Tyler ahead by three runs.
 
The scoring continued in the fifth inning after Roach sent a triple into right field to leadoff the frame. Already the UT Tyler career record holder, it was his sixth triple of the season. Wilson followed with a fielder's choice that scored Roach from third to put the Patriots ahead, 4-1.
 
For the second straight inning, the Patriots began the sixth inning with a leadoff triple with senior infielder Henry Sanchez (San Antonio, Texas) picking up his second of the season. Pavelock followed with a single that to score the team's fifth run of the game. A one-out double to left field by Roach scored another with Pavelock crossing home plate. Wilson and Welch made it three straight RBI doubles and gave the Patriots an 8-1 lead.
 
In the eighth inning, UT Tyler went ahead double digits with three more runs. The first three batters of the inning reached with back-to-back singles by Roach and Wilson while Burns was walked to load the bases. Welch picked up an RBI with a bases loaded ground out before Maddox singled to center and plated another. Forsythe reached on a fielder's choice to score the last run of the ball game.
 
Junior right-handed pitcher Austin Schneider (Keller, Texas) got the start and pitched all eight innings to move to 5-2 on the season with his first complete game. He struck out nine batters in the contest and faced just five batters over the minimum.
 
Three Patriots went 3-5 at the plate highlighted by Wilson who drove in four runs and scored three more. Welch and Roach also picked up three hits each while Pavelock added two. Welch was also the only other Patriot with multiple runs driven recording three.
 
The series will come to a close on Saturday when the two teams meet for a single game at 11 a.m. The Patriots will be looking for their third series sweep of the season and their first three-game sweep.