MADISONVILLE, Texas -- UT Tyler opened its 2021 season with an impressive 12-1 win over Montevallo, as the NCAA Division II No. 4-ranked Patriots produced 12 runs during a three-inning stretch to race away with a five-inning mercy-rule win in the opening game of a three-game weekend series.
 
Leadoff hitter Haleigh Swinney led the way, going 4-for-4 with 5 RBIs, including a bases-loaded, two-out triple in the bottom of the second that opened up the scoring in a 6-run second inning. Ashley Perez added 4 RBIs from the No. 3 spot in the lineup, and Payton Foster scattered 4 hits with an unearned run to pick up the 5-inning complete-game win.
 
With the win, UT Tyler is 1-0 to start the 2021 season, while Montevallo drops to 0-3.
 
How It Happened: Montevallo leadoff hitter Mariel Bertossi opened the game with a base hit, and she put herself in position to score with a steal and an advance on a passed ball before scoring on Sierra Easterwood's two-out single.
 
The Patriots didn't wait long to answer, loading the bases with two outs in the bottom of the second inning to bring Haleigh Swinney to the plate, and she delivered a deep fly ball to straightaway center to clear the bases for a 3-1 lead. UT Tyler didn't stop there, as the next three hitters each delivered run-scoring base hits to extend the lead to 6-1.
 
UT Tyler added 4 runs in the third inning, scoring all four again with two outs in the frame as Swinney delivered an RBI double down the left field line before Shelby Hughston drew a walk to load the bases. Ashley Perez cleared the bases again, this time with a two-out double into the gap in right-center, extending the lead to 10-1. In the bottom of the fourth, Michelle Arias knocked in a run with a pinch-hit two-out single to left before Swinney added another RBI knock with a two-out double to left-center for the final 12-1 margin.
 
Inside The Box Score: UT Tyler and Montevallo combined to score all 13 runs of the game with two outs… Haleigh Swinney's career-high in RBIs was 2, which she eclipsed with her second-inning three-run triple… Five of the Patriots' 10 hits went for extra bases, as Swinney collected 2 doubles and a triple while Ashley Perez recorded 2 doubles.
 
What's Next: UT Tyler will take on Montevallo again Saturday at Madisonville High School in a doubleheader set to begin at noon.