LAWTON, OKLA. - UT Tyler extended their season-long winning streak to four games with a pair of strong performances on Saturday afternoon against Cameron. The four game run is their longest since another four game winning streak from April 3-10 in the 2021 season.
Game one saw the Patriots get on the board quickly as Riley Lambert scored on a groundout to second base and Lukas Polanco doubled home Ethan Bedgood and Jordan Gochenour after the pair reached base on a hit by pitch and a walk. That gave UT Tyler a 3-0 lead in just the top half of the first inning.
Harrison Lee stepped on the bump for the Patriots and allowed just one runner to reach base in the bottom half of the inning but countered with two strikeouts and a groundout to limit the damage. That quick inning brought the Patriots bats right back up, and they extended their lead with six more runs.
After the leadoff hitter reached on an error, a walk, and a single loaded the bases, Kyle McShaffry delivered a single to right field to drive in a run and leave the bases loaded. A passed ball scored another run, and Bedgood brought home another run after reaching on an error. A wild pitch scored another run, and Polanco drove in his third run of the night on yet another double. Alex Bruce stepped to the plate as the eighth batter of the inning, and drove in the final run with a sacrifice fly to center field. In the third inning, the Aggies finally got on the board as Jayce Clem smoked a pitch over the center field wall for a two-run home run to bring the score to 9-2 in favor of the Patriots. Lee didn't waver, inducing a lineout and a groundout to end the inning.
The Patriots wasted no time in answering the Aggies first runs of the game, striking back with one of their own in the top of the fourth. Carson Cox was hit by a pitch and that walked home a run as UT Tyler had loaded the bases on a pair of singles and a hit by pitch.
In the fifth inning, the Patriots extended their lead yet again as Tommy van de Sanden doubled to left field to bring home Hayden Clearman who had doubled in the at-bat prior. That kept a runner in scoring position for Gochenour, as he singled to first base and brought van de Sanden all the way around from second.
With the lead up to 10, the Aggies looked for a late rally, and added three runs to their tally as they looked to get back into the contest. After three consecutive walks loaded the bases for Cameron, Clem stepped to the plate and delivered a double to center field that scored all three runners and cut the lead to 12-5.
Just as they did in the top of the fourth inning, the Patriots responded with another run after the Aggies scored in the previous half inning. This time it was Gochenour again driving home a run as he singled to center field to bring home McShaffry and set the final score to 13-5 in game one.
Four Patriots hitters collected multi-hit games in game one and Lukas Polanco and Kyle McShaffry led the way. Polanco went 2-for-4 with three RBI's and McShaffry went 3-for-5 with two RBI's and two runs scored.
Harrison Lee collected his first win of the season after going four full innings while giving up just six hits and two earned runs. Lee struck out seven hitters and walked just one as he faced 19 hitters on the day.
GAME TWO
Game two saw Nick Niebur take the mound for UT Tyler, but the Aggies struck first for the first time in the series. Two straight singles and a walk loaded the bases, and a fielder's choice scored the first run of the game as Cameron took the lead for the first time in the series.
Just as they did in the first game of the doubleheader, the Patriots bats responded to the Cameron run with runs of their own in the following half inning. Carson Cox got the scoring started for UT Tyler with an RBI double to right field. Tanner Roach followed with a sacrifice fly to left field, and the Patriots quickly regained the lead.
Niebur settled right into a groove after the offense gave him the lead and immediately sat the Aggies down in order in inning number two. That gave the offense the chance to add to the lead, and two consecutive doubles from Bedgood and Gochenour made the score 3-1 in favor of UT Tyler.
With Niebur in complete control on the mound, the Patriots went to work extending their lead and giving him all the run support he needed. Riley Lambert jumped into the RBI action in the fourth inning as he singled to second base and drove home Cox and Cade Watson to extend the lead to 5-1 for the Patriots.
In the top of the fifth, Watson took his turn driving home runs, as he delivered a two-RBI single to center field that scored Gochenour and McShaffry. Those were the final two runs of the game for UT Tyler, as they looked to their pitching staff to shut down the Aggies.
In the bottom of the inning, Cameron scored one more run as Ben Williams came around to score on an error and pulled the Aggies within five. Another single and a walk signaled the end of the night for Niebur, and he handed the ball over to Garrett Arredondo to close out the contest.
Arredondo responded by allowing just one runner to reach base over the final 2.1 innings, and he struck out five hitters to close out the game.
Cade Watson was the only Patriot with multiple hits, going 2-for-2 with two runs scored and two RBI's. Five different UT Tyler hitters collected an RBI in the contest and every hitter reached base.
Nick Niebur earned his first victory of the season in the contest after going 4.2 strong innings. He gave up just one earned run and two runs total while spreading out five hits, three walks, and striking out two hitters.
UT Tyler will now look to extend their winning streak to five games on Sunday afternoon and complete their first series sweep of the season. First pitch in the series finale on Sunday is scheduled for 1 p.m.
