TYLER, TEXAS – The UT Tyler baseball program grabbed three two out runs runs in the bottom of the eighth to push the lead to 10 and end the contest early on Sunday afternoon to give the Patriots their second consecutive series victory.
 
UT Permian Basin was able to grab the early lead in the contest after a solo home run to left center field in the top half of the first off of starter Nolan Cox. Cox was undeterred, and retired the next five hitters consecutively to give the Patriots ample time to answer.
 
In the bottom of the second, Jordan Gochenour got things started with a one-out triple to center field. Lukas Polanco then singled to the pitcher to put two runners on. Cade Watson dropped the sacrifice squeeze bunt, and Carson Cox singled up the middle to give the Patriots two quick runs. That brought up Tanner Roach, who delivered a two-out double to score the third run of the game.
 
In the third inning, the Falcons scratched out another run after a single and then an error by the third baseman scored the runner from second. In the bottom half of the inning, UT Tyler responded right back, scoring two runs on a deep double from Kyle McShaffry and a sacrifice fly from Ethan Bedgood.
 
Cox went right back out for the fourth, and allowed just one single while putting out three hitters on a flyout, lineout, and a fielder's choice. That led to the Patriots scoring yet another run, this time on another sacrifice fly, this time from Riley Lambert.
 
In the fifth inning, the Falcons led off with a deep home run to left field, and Cox then hit the next batter. However, he settled right back in and sat the next three hitters down in order to minimize the damage done.
 
That gritty inning from Cox gave even more life to the Patriots bats, who went out in support of their pitcher and grabbed five more runs to extend the lead out to eight. After a pair of singles put two runners on, Watson delivered a single up the middle with two outs to score the first run. Carson Cox followed with a walk to load the bases, and Roach stepped up and launched a pitch deep over the left field wall for a grand slam that slid all of the momentum in favor of UT Tyler.
 
After a strong performance from Cox on the mound, Harrison Lee took over in the sixth inning as the Patriots looked to put the game on ice. The Falcons weren't done just yet, as they launched a leadoff home run over the right field wall to cut the deficit down to seven. After a single in the next at-bat, Lee forced a ground ball double play and a flyout to left field to end the inning.
 
Tyler Baack took over for Lee in the seventh, and delivered a scoreless inning after allowing a hit by pitch and a single. In the eighth inning, Mitchell Lee took over for Baack, and worked a quick 1-2-3 inning to give the Patriots bats the chance to end the game early.
 
The Patriots needed three runs to end the game early, and after two strikeouts it looked like the game would go a full nine innings. However, UT Tyler had six consecutive walks that scored three runs and ended the contest. Earning walks in the inning were Gochenour, Polanco, Watson, Cox, Roach, and Alex Bruce, who earned the walk off walk in his only plate appearance.
 
Four different UT Tyler hitters had multi-hit games in the series finale. Kyle McShaffry, Jordan Gochenour, Carson Cox, and Tanner Roach each had big games. Eight of the nine starters reached base, and Gochenour, Polanco, and Roach each scored three runs.
 
Nolan Cox got the victory after going five solid innings and giving the UT Tyler bullpen a much needed break. He gave up four hits and two earned runs while striking out three hitters and hitting just one batter. Harrison Lee, Tyler Baack, and Mitchell Lee combined for three innings of relief and gave up just three hits and one run total.
 
The Patriots will now get a week off from the LSC schedule as they get a chance to rest for the first time since February. The next contest for UT Tyler will be on the road against UAFS on April 8. That will be the first game of a four game series as the two programs will play a doubleheader on April 9 and the series finale will come on April 10.