GEORGETOWN, Texas—The University of Texas at Tyler Baseball (17-12) came away with a 10-8 road victory in 11 innings over Southwestern University (16-12) in what ended as a historic evening for senior infielder Blake Wilson (Midlothian Texas).
 
By appearing in his 174^th career game as a Patriot, Wilson set the program record for most games played. Later in the game, he drove in the game-winning run in the 11^th inning for his 220^th career hit which is also the most in UT Tyler Baseball history. Wilson is also in reach of the career records for games started and at-bats.
 
"I am extremely happy to have achieved all that I have individually and that we have as a team," Wilson said of his accomplishments. "It is a great feeling and I can't wait to finish out this season strong with my teammates."
 
"I could not be any prouder of Blake," Head Coach Brent Porche added. "He is the best pure hitter I have ever coached and just finds a way to get the barrel to the ball. There have been so many great players in our program's history and it says a lot that Blake will go down as the all-time hits leader."
 
It was the Pirates who jumped out to an early lead with a pair of runs in the home half of the first inning. The Patriots quickly got a run back in the to top the second after three-consecutive batters reached with one out to load the bases. With sophomore outfielder Brandon Rossiter (Whitehouse, Texas) at the plate, senior infielder Henry Sanchez (San Antonio, Texas) scored on a fielder's choice for the first UT Tyler run of the game.
 
Wilson led off the top of the third inning with a triple for career hit number-217. Senior outfielder Josh Burns (Center, Texas) followed by reaching base on a hit by pitch before Sanchez drove them both in on a single up the middle. The base hit put UT Tyler on top, 3-2, but the scoring would continue in the fourth inning.
 
The first two Patriots to the plate in the top of the fourth inning were both retired but sophomore outfielder Tanner Roach (Whitehouse, Texas) kept the inning alive when he was hit by a pitch. Wilson pulled within one hit of the program's career record with a single to right field that scored Roach. Burns came up to the plate next and hit his third homerun of the season to plate two more runs. His long ball gave the Patriots a 6-2 advantage, but Southwestern did trim the lead with two runs of their own in the home half of the inning.
 
Wilson continued to make history in the top of the sixth inning with his third hit of the ballgame and 219^th of his collegiate career. That number tied the all-time mark for the UT Tyler Baseball program and drove in the sixth Patriot run of the ball game. The base knock to right field also drove in Rossiter who reached after being hit by a pitch to make it a 7-4 Patriot lead.
 
Southwestern slowly began to chip away at their deficit with two runs in the bottom of the sixth and another in the seventh to tie the game at seven runs each. With neither team able to score in the eighth or ninth inning, it marked the second time this season that the Patriots went into an extra innings contest.
 
UT Tyler had a chance in the top of the 10^th after senior infielder Blake Maddox (Jacksonville, Texas) was hit by a pitch to begin the inning. He advanced to second after junior outfielder Zane Wilkinson (Keller, Texas) was walked in four pitches, but both runners would be stranded on the base paths.
 
Wilson's historic night continued when he came to the plate with one runner on in the top of the 11^th inning. He sent the first pitch he faced into right field four his fourth hit of the ball game and 220^th of his career. The hit broke the UT Tyler career record and scored the go-ahead run with Roach scoring from first base. Burns added an insurance run with an infield single to plate Wilson while senior outfielder Graham Welch (Plano, Texas) made it a three-run lead with an RBI-double to right field.
 
The Patriots thwarted a Pirates' comeback bid in the home half of the inning that saw Southwestern get one run back. The UT Tyler defense managed to end the comeback there and hold on to a 10-8 extra innings victory.
 
Welch also got the start on the mound and pitched the first 3.1 innings. He surrendered five hits and four runs before being relieved by freshman right-handed pitcher Kasey Williamson (Madisonville, Texas) who pitched the next 2.2 innings. Freshman right-hander Tod McDowell (Bridge City, Texas) recorded the first out of the seventh inning before fellow freshman righty Matthew McMillan (Pflugerville, Texas) worked through the ninth inning with five strikeouts. Senior right-hander Turner Givens (Spring, Texas) was on the mound for the final two innings and earned his first victory of the season. He allowed just one hit and one run while striking out four Pirate batters.
 
The Patriots will return to Irwin Field this weekend for Homecoming 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.