EDMOND, Okla. -- UT Tyler scored two early runs in Saturday's Lone Star Conference series opener at Oklahoma Christian, but the Patriots were held scoreless the rest of the way as the Eagles posted a 5-2 win.
 
Kyle McShaffry drove in two runs with his first-inning double just three batters into the game, but Oklahoma Christian surrendered just three more hits the rest of the way as the Eagles chipped away with single runs in the first and third innings before taking the lead for good with a 2-run fifth.
 
Jepson and Bumstead each collected 2 hits, and UT Tyler's offense drew 7 walks to go with 6 hits, but the Patriots stranded 12 baserunners to Oklahoma Christian pitchers Gabe Rodery and Noah Bates.
 
Rodery scattered 5 hits and 3 walks with 5 strikeouts over 6 innings to pick up the win, and Bates gave up 1 hit and 4 walks with 6 strikeouts over the final 3 innings to earn the save for Oklahoma Christian.
 
Offensively, the Patriots were led by the top of the lineup, where Jepson batted leadoff and Bumstead batted second. The pair collected 4 of the Patriots' 6 hits, with McShaffry producing a 2-run double in the first inning while Gochenour led off the sixth with a single.
 
On the mound, Jacob Blatney notched 8 strikeouts in 4.1 innings of work. He allowed 4 runs (3 earned) on 5 hits and 3 walks, and A.J. Irvin finished off the game with a 3.2-inning relief appearance. Irvin allowed 1 run on 3 hits with 5 strikeouts.
 
UT Tyler is now 21-10 overall and 20-8 in LSC play, while Oklahoma Christian improved to 19-10 overall and 16-9 in the LSC.
 
The 3-game series concludes with a Sunday doubleheader, with the opening game set for first pitch at noon.