TYLER, TEXAS – #11 UT Tyler suffered a 10-1 defeat at the hands of #3 Angelo State on opening night at Irwin Field on Friday night.
A ballgame that went through four innings in favor of the Patriots, who led 1-0 (0-1, 0-1 LSC), turned south in the final five frames as the Rams (1-0, 1-0 LSC) plated all 10 of their runs throughout that stretch of baseball. Patriot starter
Austin Schneider began his 2021 campaign with 5.0 innings of work, striking out seven, and conceding a pair of runs to end up being credited with the loss.
The Patriots were able to generate momentum heading into the final two games of the series in the late stages of the game as they posted four of their eight hits for the game in the final three frames of action.
Tanner Roach got the night started with a lead-off triple to right center in the Patriot's first at bat of the 2021 season, and eventually came around to score on the final out of the inning after
Hayden Clearman was caught stealing between first and second to end the inning after Roach had already crossed home plate.
UT Tyler and Angelo State will get back out on the field tomorrow night for a 6 p.m. meeting on Irwin Field.
How it Happened: That 1-0 lead after the first inning would hold steady through the next few frames as Schneider retired the Rams in order in the top half of the second and then worked his way out of a jam in the third with runners on second and third. A flyout to center would end the Ram's threat to the Patriots lead as Schneider continued to work with another three-up and three-down top half of the fourth.
The senior had all seven of his strikeouts through the first four innings of work before running into trouble in the fifth. Angelo State was able to flip the one-run Patriots advantage in that fifth inning, and never relinquished that lead for the remainder of the contest.
The 2-1 lead would be extended to 4-1 in the top of the seventh as the Patriot bullpen struggled to slow down a high-powered Angelo State offense. An
Edward Ortiz double in the bottom of the seventh with one out put the Patriots in position to get a late-inning rally started, but the sophomore couldn't manage to advance any further as the Rams turned to their bullpen for the final out of the inning.
A five run eighth inning extended the advantage to 9-1 before two more Patriots made their way on base in the bottom half of the frame, still looking for some late-inning magic.
Jordan Gochenour and
Ethan Bedgood were unable to make it around to cut into the Ram lead, and an additional run in the ninth for the Rams brought the game to a 10-1 final.
By The Numbers: Both teams managed eight hits for the night… Gochenour, Bedgood and Ortiz all led the Patriots with two hits… Gochenour and Ortiz both went 2-for-3 while Bedgood ended the night 2-for-4… Roach went 1-for-2 and had the lone Patriot run of the night… Roach also totaled three of the five Patriot walks… The Josh Elvir and Nick Seginowich combo for the Rams combined to go 4-for-6, drove in five runs, and scored a total of three runs… Elvir and Seginowich had the two homers on the night for the Rams… Ram starter Trent Baker struck out 12 Patriots and earned the win after surrendering one run.
Next Up: UT Tyler and Angelo State will compete in game number two of the opening series for the 2021 season tomorrow night at 6 p.m. at Irwin Field.
