TYLER, Texas -- Facing an uncertain future with the sudden suspension of all Lone Star Conference competition in the coming weeks, No. 13-ranked UT Tyler put together a performance to remember with a 7-0 victory over No. 16 West Texas A&M Thursday evening.

In the hours leading up to Thursday's first pitch, the NCAA announced the cancellation of all remaining winter and spring championships, and just an hour later, the Lone Star Conference followed with an announcement of the suspension of all conference competition effective starting at midnight Friday through March 30 with the stipulation that Thursday's games could be completed.

UT Tyler's pitching ace Austin Schneider dealt six shutout innings in a combined shutout with three Patriot relievers, and the defense behind them turned five double plays to keep the shutout alive throughout the game.

Tyler Jepson hit a first-inning solo home run, and Kyle McShaffry added a two-run shot in the second inning to give the Patriots an early 3-0 lead. Tanner Roach added a pair of run-scoring doubles as the UT Tyler capitalized on crucial scoring opportunities.

With the win, UT Tyler edged ahead of Angelo State for sole possession of first place in the Lone Star Conference, as the Patriots improved to 20-3 overall and 12-0 at home this season. West Texas A&M dropped to 17-6.

How It Happened: Austin Schneider dealt six shutout innings, scattering six hits and three walks with four strikeouts while the Patriots took a 6-0 lead. Schneider retired the first six batters to start the game, but West Texas A&M put runners at first and third in the third inning after consecutive singles to lead off the frame. When Tanner Schuetz flied out to center for the first out, Darius Carter tried to score from third base, but Tanner Roach's throw from center was on target and in time, giving the Patriots their first double play of the game.

The Buffaloes loaded the bases with one out in the fifth inning, but Schneider got the next batter to ground to third baseman for an inning-ending double play, and he got another double play in the sixth to erase an error to the leadoff batter. The next two batters also reached on a hit and a walk, but Schneider finished his day by ending the frame with a fly out to left.

By that time, the offense had produced a six-run cushion, starting with Riley Jepson's opposite-field solo home run to left field in the bottom of the first inning. Kyle McShaffry added a two-run opposite-field shot in the bottom of the second to give UT Tyler a 3-0 lead, and McShaffry sparked a three-run inning in the sixth to extend the lead to 6-0. McShaffry led off the bottom of the sixth with a single to left, and he scored on Cade Watson's one-out RBI double down the left field line.

Corbin Geisendorff kept the rally going with a single through the left side, and Tanner Roach followed with a two-run double down the left field line to extend the lead to 6-0. Geisendorff led off the bottom of the eighth with a slow roller down the third base line for an infield single, and Roach added another RBI double down the left field line to make it 7-0.

West Texas A&M got runners on base against each of UT Tyler's three relievers, starting with a two-out triple off Max Page, who notched a three-pitch strikeout to finish off a scoreless seventh. In the eighth inning, Keith Long erased a leadoff walk with a groundout to first base, which turned into a double play when the baserunner was caught between first and second base. In the ninth inning, Matthew McMillan issued consecutive walks to lead off the ninth before he notched a strikeout and a game-ending double-play grounder to shortstop to finish off the shutout.

Tanner Roach finished the game 2-for-4 with three RBIs and his 11th stolen base of the year, and Kyle McShaffry and Corbin Geisendorff added two hits each to lead the UT Tyler offense.

Inside The Box Score: By keeping West Texas A&M scoreless in the first inning, UT Tyler put up a scoreless first inning for the 22nd time in 23 games this season… Tanner Roach's 2-for-4 performance was his team-leading 12th multi-hit game of the season… Riley Jepson extended his hitting streak to 8 games with his third home run of the season… Jepson now shares the team RBI lead (24) with Jordan Gochenour and Bowie Farris… Jepson has reached safely in all 23 games of the 2020 season.

What's Next: The suspension of Lone Star Conference competition will last through March 30, as the NCAA and Lone Star Conference took action based on recent developments and the continued spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19).