TYLER, TEXAS – The UT Tyler pitching staff gave up their only run of the game in the first inning off of a Matt Kissamis double and then proceeded to allow just two more hits while striking out seven hitters to lead the Patriots to a game one victory over the Dustdevils.
 
Dylan Blomquist was the man who got the ball for the Patriots to start the game. Blomquist gave up a single to the leadoff hitter in the first inning and he later scored off of a Matt Kissamis double to give the Dustdevils the lead.
 
Blomquist responded to that two hit inning by allowing just two more hits before he was replaced by Easton Malin with two outs in the top of the sixth. Blomquist allowed just five runners to reach base after that first inning and just once were there two runners on the basepaths for Texas A&M International. Included in the outing were a pair of three up, three down innings in the second and fourth.
 
Following the one run in the top of the first inning for the Dustdevils, the Patriots got a big two out double from Tommy van de Sanden before he was brought in to score off of an error by the Texas A&M International shortstop.
 
With Blomquist settling in to a groove on the mound, the UT Tyler offense went to work to provide the insurance he needed. In the second inning, a walk and a pair of singles loaded the bases with two outs. Kyle Hawkins took four balls off of the plate and the free RBI to give the Patriots the 2-1 lead.
 
In the fouth inning, the lead was extended to 3-1 thanks to some great baserunning and timely hitting. Cade Watson led the inning off with a walk and promptly stole second to put pressure on the Dustdevil defense. Carson Cox took advantage of the opportunity and drove in Watson for the two run Patriots lead.
 
After another strong inning for Blomquist in the fifth, the Patriots offense blew the game wide open with a seven run fifth inning. Kyle McShaffry led off with a towering home run on the first pitch of the inning that cleared the video board over right field fence at Irwin Field.
 
Lukas Polanco worked a walk as the next hitter, and was over to third after a passed ball and Watson single. Riley Lambert drove Polanco home and moved Watson over to third. After a pair of walks from Cox and Tanner Roach, the lead was up to five.
 
Van de Sanden came through with a big two out single that scored another pair of Patriots runs. McShaffry came up for his second at-bat of the inning and earned a hit by pitch to load the bases again. This time Polanco hit a high pop up to the pitcher's mound that nobody caught and the lead was extended to 10-1.
 
With the lead firmly in hand, UT Tyler turned to Malin to complete the contest and secure the win. After inheriting two runners in the top of the sixth with two outs, Malin promptly struck out Mario Chacon to end the threat.
 
Over the next three innings of work, Malin allowed just one baserunner to reach first base who got on by way of error. He closed out the contest with four strikeouts and no hits in his two and a third innings of work.
 
With the nine run lead after the seventh inning, the Patriots looked to secure the run-rule victory and end the game early. Ethan Bedgood was the man to answer that call, as he smoked a pitch over the left field wall for his second home run of the season and the walk-off victory for UT Tyler.
 
Cade Watson and Tommy van de Sanden were the two Patriots hitters with multiple hits as each had two. They each scored a pair of runs on the night and van de Sanden drove in a pair of runs.
 
Dylan Blomquist earned the win tonight on the mound. He went 5.2 innings, allowing just four hits and one earned run while striking out three. Easton Malin came on in relief, going for 2.1 innings and striking out four while not surrendering a hit.
 
The Patriots will be back in action tomorrow afternoon for a doubleheader against the Dustdevils. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 3 p.m. and game two will begin approximately 35 minutes after game one has ended.