JACKSON, Miss.—The University of Texas at Tyler Baseball (16-12) earned their third sweep and first three-game series sweep of the season with a 12-6 victory over Belhaven University (9-23) on Saturday afternoon.
 
It was a quick start for the Patriots who grabbed an early lead in the top half of the first inning. Sophomore outfielder Tanner Roach (Whitehouse, Texas) began the game with a single to center field before being driven in on a double to right field by senior infielder Blake Wilson (Midlothian, Texas). Neither team scored in the second inning with UT Tyler holding on to their 1-0 lead going into the third.
 
With Roach back up to the plate with one out, he smacked his first collegiate homerun over the left field wall. The solo shot made him the seventh Patriot to hit a homerun this season. The scoring did not end there as senior outfielder Josh Burns (Center, Texas) reached on a two-out infield single to the left side of the diamond. Burns then advanced to third base on a single to right field by senior outfielder Graham Welch (Plano, Texas). With runners on the corners, Burns scored from third on a double steal with Welch reaching second base.
 
UT Tyler doubled their score in the fourth inning with three more runs. All three runs came with two outs despite freshman infielder Zachary Sanchez (San Antonio, Texas) leading off the inning with a walk. After stealing second base, Sanchez was brought home on a triple by junior outfielder Zane Wilkinson (Keller, Texas). Roach followed with an RBI-double to left field while Wilson drove in the third run of the inning with a base hit to right. The three runs put the Patriots on top, 6-1, heading into the fifth inning.
 
In the top of the sixth inning, senior catcher Zach Pavelock (Iola, Texas) was hit by a pitch to begin the frame. After advancing to second base, he came home on an infield single by Roach who later stole second base. Wilson followed with another RBI-single, this time to center field making it an 8-1 Patriot advantage.
 
Belhaven matched with two runs of their own in the bottom of the seventh but UT Tyler was not done adding runs. Four more Patriot runs crossed home plate in the top of the eighth inning. The first four batters of the inning with reached base with Roach being hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. Roach stole second base before being driven in with an RBI-single by Wilson and sophomore outfielder Brandon Rossiter (Whitehouse, Texas) put runners on the corners with a pinch-hit single. Welch was the fourth-straight batter to reach with an RBI-single to right field while two more runners scored later in the inning on a Blazer throwing error.
 
With a nine-run lead heading into the bottom of the ninth inning, Belhaven made a final comeback bid with three runs. That was all the Blazers could must, dropping the final game of the series, 12-6.
 
Junior left-handed pitcher Max Page (Montgomery, Texas) earned his first start of the season and picked up his second win after 5.1 innings of work. He struck out four batters and allowed just one run before being relieved by freshman right-hander Kasey Williamson (Madisonville, Texas) who recorded the final two outs of the sixth inning. Freshman right-hander Tod McDowell (Bridge City, Texas) worked the seventh and eighth innings while fellow freshman right-hander Matthew McMillan (Pflugerville, Texas) pitched the ninth inning.
 
At the plate, Roach and Wilson both recorded four hits at the top of the lineup. They also produced most of the offense with Roach driving in three runs and scoring five and Wilson driving in four and scoring one. The five runs scored by Roach tie the UT Tyler single-game record.
 
The Patriots will now travel to Southwestern University for a Tuesday evening matchup at 6 p.m. in Georgetown, Texas. They will return to Irwin Field for Homecoming Weekend when they host the University of the Ozarks Friday at 7 p.m. and for a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. Along with Homecoming Weekend, the Patriots will also host their Clements Fluids Alumni Weekend.