TYLER, TEXAS – The University of Texas at Tyler Baseball program will look to snap their losing streak as they take on St. Edward's in an LSC series this weekend at Irwin Field at the UT Tyler Ballpark.
The series begins on Friday with a 2 p.m. first pitch against the Hilltoppers. Games two and three of the series will be a part of a doubleheader that is set to start at 1 p.m. on Saturday, and both teams will conclude the series on Sunday at 1 p.m.
PITCHING STRONG
The Patriots pitching staff has gotten off to a solid start and looks poised to be one of the top units in the LSC. Through the first three weekends of competition, UT Tyler sits third in the LSC in team ERA at 4.25. They have given up the second fewest hits and earned runs, and have also had the fewest walks.
Nick Niebur (2.04 ERA) and
Dylan Blomquist (3.00 ERA) are ranked number two and number six, respectively, among all pitchers in the LSC in ERA.
SERIES HISTORY
The Patriots and the Hilltoppers have faced off three times in their program's histories, and each of those games came last year in a series Feb. 26-28 in Austin, Texas. UT Tyler came away with the series sweep in those games, winning games by a score of 11-10, 13-12, and 8-2. In each of the first two games in that series, the Patriots had to hold off late rallies from the Hilltoppers in the bottom of the ninth to hang on for the victory.
THE SCOUTING REPORT
As a team, St. Edward's is second in the LSC in ERA, and sit fifth in team batting average at .301. As a team, they have six players in the top 50 in the LSC in batting average, and have three pitchers in the top 28 in ERA.
Leading the Hilltoppers on offense is Cullen Ainsworth. Ainsworth is batting .500 with 14 hits and 12 runs scored on the season. He has added in 19 RBI's with eight combined extra base hits.
Luke Short is the top arm in the LSC and the top arm in the rotation for St. Edward's. He has an ERA of 1.89 over 19 innings pitched and three starts. He has given up just 13 hits, four earned runs, and has 28 strikeouts to go with just eight walks.
Coaching the Hilltoppers is Bryan Faulds. Faulds is in his first season as head coach of the Hilltoppers and holds a record of 9-3. Faulds previously served as the pitching coach at St. Edward's and before then he was the pitching coach at Ohio University.
AROUND THE LONE STAR CONFERENCE
West Texas A&M remains on top of the LSC standings as they hold an 8-0 record so far this season. Angelo State, Lubbock Christian, and St. Edward's are all tied at 9-3 just behind the Buffs. Texas A&M-Kingsville is at 8-4 and the Patriots are at 6-6 just behind them.
ON THE HORIZON
Following the four game home series against the Hilltoppers, the Patriots will hit the road again for a road trip to Canyon, Texas. That four game series will be against #3 West Texas A&M. That series begins with a 7 p.m. contest on Mar. 4 and then will transition into a doubleheader on Mar. 5 that begins at 4 p.m. The series will conclude on Sunday, Mar. 6 with a 1 p.m. first pitch.
