SAN ANGELO, TEXAS – UT Tyler defeated UT Permian Basin by a 7-1 final and lost to #9 Angelo State by a 3-2 final on the first day of competition for the Patriots at the ASU George & Ola McCorkle Challenge in San Angelo, Texas on Monday.
 
Erin Hill picked up the win in game number one against UT Permian Basin for the Patriots after throwing 5.1 innings while conceding just a single earned run. That effort for Hill in the circle allowed the Patriot offense to get to work early and often in the 7-1 victory against the Falcons as they struck for two runs in both the first and seconds innings, and three runs in the bottom of the sixth to make Hill's quality start count in game number one.
 
That quality work in the circle for the Patriots would translate into game number two as Payton Foster worked through the first five innings of her outing by allowing just a single unearned run. The Patriot offense would take a little longer in game number two to get started, but flipped a one-run disadvantage in the top of the sixth inning into a one-run advantage at 2-1 thanks to a two-RBI double from Mak Dominguez.
 
Foster worked through the bottom half of that frame without any issues, but ran into trouble in the bottom of the seventh and was credited with the loss after allowing a pair of runners on base that would eventually come around to score in walk-off fashion for the no. 9 nationally-ranked Rambelles. Foster finished her outing by going 6.2 innings while allowing two earned runs, both of which came in the bottom of the seventh, while striking out three.
 
How It Happened in Game One: Hill retired the first six batters she faced in the opening two frames in game number one against UT Permian Basin and got the run support early from her Patriot comrades at the plate. Ashley Perez scored Haleigh Swinney in the bottom of the first with a double down the left field line to open up the scoring for the day for UT Tyler.
 
Perez came around to score from third on a two-out single by Dominguez a batter later to pad the advantage to 2-0. Swinney, the reigning Louisville Slugger/NFCA National Player of the Week, doubled that Patriot lead by scoring Tristin Anders and Grace Davis with a one-out double in the bottom of the second.
 
UT Tyler threatened to extend the advantage with the bases loaded with two outs in the bottom of the third as Hill continued to keep the Falcons at bay in the circle, but couldn't help herself out at the plate as she struck out in the bases-loaded situation to end the inning. She made quick work of the Falcons with a three-up, three-down inning in the top of the fourth and worked her way around a leadoff double in the fifth to keep the 4-0 advantage solely in the hands of UT Tyler.
 
Hill walked the first two batters in the sixth inning, leading to the first run of the game for the Falcons on a single two batters later, and was relieved by Sarah Gartman following the first run of the game for the Falcons, who retired the next two batters she faced to end the inning. UT Tyler counteracted that run for the Falcons in the bottom half of the inning with three runs of their own as Swinney's third hit of the day sparked a two-out rally for UT Tyler. Perez scored Swinney for the second time in the game with a double to centerfield after a Shelby Hughston walk with two outs.
 
Allyson Rodriguez pinch ran for Perez and scored on a Serena Saldivar single alongside Hanna Fradkin, who pinch ran herself for Hughston, to break open the 7-1 advantage for the Patriots.
 
That tally would last through the top of the seventh as Gartman worked around a one-out double to retire the next two to hand the Patriots their third straight win to open up 2021.
 
How it Happened in Game Two: Foster retired the first nine batters she faced in game number two against #9 Angelo State on Monday afternoon, engaging in an all-out pitching duel with Angelo State's Genesis Armendariz through the first three frames. Angelo State got on the board first in the bottom of the fourth as a costly error by the Patriots with two outs allowed the Rambelles to get the first run on the board with a two-out double to right center.
 
Foster limited the damage with a strike out to end the inning after loading the bases with consecutive walks following the double that broke the scoreless tie.
 
UT Tyler found their own two-out magic in the top of the sixth, however, as Dominguez scored Amanda Marek and Shea Smith on a two-out double to give the Patriots a 2-1 advantage. Smith came on to pinch run earlier in the inning for Perez who got on by way of a one-out single, and Marek hit a two-out double after coming on to pinch hit a batter later to set Dominguez up with runners on second and third with two outs.
 
Dominguez rose to the occasion and briefly put UT Tyler ahead before Angelo State was able to walk it off in the bottom of the seventh with a two-out single that scored a pair and ended the game at 3-2 in favor of the Rambelles.
 
Patriot Leaders: Perez finished her day 4-for-7 at the plate with a pair of hits in each game… Both her hits were doubles in game number one against UT Permian Basin, and she finished the day with two RBI's as well… Swinney went 3-for-4 against UT Permian Basin, but didn't record a hit in her four at bats against Angelo State… She scored twice against UT Permian Basin and also posted a pair of RBI's herself… Saldivar went 4-for-5 for the day and was a perfect 2-for-2 from the plate with a pair of RBI's against UT Permian Basin.
 
Up Next: The Patriots will have another chance at #9 Angelo State tomorrow afternoon at 1:15 following an 11:00 a.m. game against Texas A&M International to cap off play in the George & Ola McCorkle Challenge.