TYLER, TEXAS – The Patriots baseball program stayed patient at the plate all night long and the pitching staff held UT Permian Basin in check to give UT Tyler a 1-0 series lead to start the weekend.
 
Dylan Blomquist got the start for UT Tyler just as he has all season in game one and had the whole arsenal of pitches working tonight. After a groundout and a single, the next batter was hit by pitch, but Blomquist settled down and induced a ground ball double play to end the inning and give the Patriots the chance to get on the board.
 
Head coach Brent Porche preached the need to stay patient at the plate and produce good at-bats for the Patriots hitters, and that is exactly what they did in the first inning. Two walks and a hit by pitch loaded the bases for the Patriots, and Ethan Bedgood was hit by another pitch to score the first run of the game. After a fielder's choice got the runner out at home, the Patriots still had the bases loaded with just one out, and Lukas Polanco delivered a single to right field to plate another run and keep the bases loaded.
 
That brought up Cade Watson, who grounded into what was thought to be an inning ending double play, but Coach Porche challenged the call and got it overturned to keep the inning alive and score yet another run. After another walk and two consecutive hit by pitches, the Falcons elected to make a pitching change as the Patriots had now scored five runs on just one hit.
 
Tommy van de Sanden stepped to the plate and jumped all over a pitch from the new pitcher and drilled it over the left field wall for a grand slam. That ran the score up to 9-0 and the Patriots never looked back.
 
After the long break, Blomquist went right back to work and set the Falcons down in order in the second with a flyout and a pair of strikeouts. That brought the UT Tyler bats back to the plate, and they delivered another run off of a Watson single to deep shortstop.
 
With the lead extended to double digits, the Patriots were now in run-rule territory if they could maintain the lead. Blomquist kept working strong, striking out two more hitters and getting a fielder's choice off of a great play from Tanner Roach at shortstop. Roach wasted no time contributing on the offensive side, as he homered in the leadoff spot in the bottom of the third to extend the lead to 11.
 
Blomquist continued to work his magic on the mound, striking out the side in the fourth inning after allowing a single and his first walk to minimize all damage. After a leadoff walk from Bedgood, three consecutive wild pitches brought him all the way around to score and make it 12-0.
 
With the game well in hand, it was all up to the pitching staff to shut down the Falcons and come away with the win. Blomquist induced a groundout to first base, and after allowing a single to center field, got two more strikeouts to end the inning.
 
In the sixth inning, Blomquist got the first two hitters to go down on strikes, but then allowed the only extra base hit of the night on a double to right field. However, he induced a quick groundout to first base and ended any threat.
 
After a stellar night on the mound through six innings, Blomquist handed the ball off to Josh Garza to close out the contest. After a leadoff walk, Garza settled in and got the strikeout to put one away. Garza hit the next batter, but struck out the next hitter to put two away. After a passed ball moved runners to third base, Garza closed out the game with yet another strikeout and ended any hopes of a rally from UT Permian Basin on the night.
 
Four different Patriots earned the four hits on the night, and all nine starters reached base in some form. Tommy van de Sanden had the big grand slam in the bottom of the first to lead the team in RBI's with four. Cade Watson and Tanner Roach each collected two RBI's in their efforts.
 
Dylan Blomquist earned the big win in the contest after going six smooth innings and allowing just five hits. He walked only one hitter and hit only one hitter while also striking out a season high 11 batters.
 
UT Tyler will be back in action tomorrow for a doubleheader that is set to begin at 3 p.m. Preceding game one will be the presentation of the Issac Tijerina award to one Patriots player, and all baseball alumni in attendance will be recognized between the two games in an on-field presentation.