TYLER, TEXAS - #11 UT Tyler and #17 West Texas A&M will play a series deciding third game tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m. at Irwin Field after an 8-3 West Texas A&M victory on Saturday night.
 
The loss snaps an eight-game winning streak for the Patriots and will set the stage for a pivotal game tomorrow afternoon for two clubs that stand in second place in the Lone Star Conference with eight conference wins a piece. Kyle McShaffry went 3-for-4 for the Patriots and recorded one of two RBI doubles in the bottom of the second inning that gave UT Tyler a 2-0 advantage after two innings of play.
 
McShaffry scored Jordan Gochenour on that RBI double down the right field line and was then driven home on the next at bat by Edward Ortiz, who also doubled down the line to left field, which scored McShaffry from second. McShaffry singled in the seventh and ninth innings to record the other four hits on the night for UT Tyler.
 
#17 West Texas A&M was propelled by a solid star from Zach Dixon, who went 7.0 full innings against the Patriots while conceding just the pair of runs in the second.
 
Johnnie Krawietz got the start for UT Tyler as traditional Saturday night starter Jacob Blatney was held out of the ballgame for the weekend and hung tough against the Buffs, but was ultimately credited with the loss after surrendering four runs. West Texas A&M scored four in the fourth inning to flip the two-run advantage for the Patriots and added a run in the six and three in the seventh to finish off the 8-3 win.
 
Nick Niebur threw 2.2 innings to finish off the game for the Patriots, allowing just two hits and no earned runs at the back half of the Patriot bullpen. UT Tyler was able to draw four walks in the contest alongside the aforementioned four hits in the contest, but stranded seven base runners in the game.
 
Sunday's series finale will allow either the Patriots or the Buffs to gain a one-game advantage in the conference win column as UT Tyler enters tomorrow's meeting with a league record of 8-3 and the Buffs sit at 8-2 in Lone Star Conference play. Garrett Arredondo will make the start for the Patriots after picking up the win in last weekend's Sunday start against St. Edward's.
 
Tomorrow's game will continue a six game homestand for the Patriots as they are set to welcome Eastern New Mexico to Irwin Field next weekend for a single game on Friday and a doubleheader on Saturday.