CANYON, TEXAS – Despite the strong start from Nolan Cox and the big start from the Patriots bats, a 10 run sixth inning from the Buffs spelled doom for UT Tyler on a blustery day in Canyon, Texas.
 
Nolan Cox got the ball to start the contest for UT Tyler, and looked strong to begin the game. Through the first three innings, Cox faced the minimum, and induced six total groundouts and three flyouts to remain perfect.
 
The top of the fourth inning saw the Patriots finally break the scoreless tie with a run. With two outs, Ethan Bedgood singled up the middle, and moved to second on a Lukas Polanco walk. Tommy van de Sanden stepped to the plate, and roped a single into left field to bring home Bedgood.
 
In the bottom half of the inning, Cox finally allowed a hitter to reach base. After a leadoff groundout, the second hitter of the inning walked on five pitches and the perfect game was over. Cox settled right back in, forcing the next two hitters into a strikeout and a groundout to end the threat.
 
In the top of the fifth, the Patriots added more run support for Cox. After two hitters reached by a hit by pitch and a walk, those runners moved over on a groundout to first. Bedgood stepped to the plate and came up clutch, singling up the middle to bring home both runners and give the Patriots a 3-0 lead.
 
The top of the sixth saw the Patriots offense blow the game wide open. A leadoff double from van de Sanden put the pressure on, and he later scored after Carson Cox reached on a fielding error with two outs. A walk from Riley Lambert gave the Patriots two runners on, and they moved up on a wild pitch.
 
Tanner Roach stepped in and delivered a two-RBI single to center field. Roach then scored all the way from first on a pickoff attempt that bounced deep into foul territory on the first base side. That drove the lead all the way out to 7-0 for UT Tyler.
 
In the bottom half of the sixth, #2 West Texas A&M bounced back in a big way with a 10 run inning to take the lead for the first time. After a two-RBI single the next two hitters reached on a double and a walk to reload the bases, Tyler Baack took over for Cox. Another two-RBI single and a walk loaded the bases again, and a walk brought home yet another run for the Buffs. That walk brought on Mitchell Lee for Baack to try and calm the rally.
 
A leadoff hit by pitch brought in another run, and another two-RBI single brought home two more runs. A single and a fielder's choice plated the ninth run of the inning, and the tenth and final run scored on another fielder's choice.
 
With the Patriots needed a response in the top of the seventh inning, Polanco stepped to the plate and roped a double to put a runner in scoring position. A pair of walks loaded the bases, but a flyout to left field ended the inning and the scoring threat.
 
The eighth inning saw the Patriots plate a run as they worked to get back into the game. A pair of singles from Riley Lambert and Kyle McShaffry put two runners on base, and Alex Bruce delivered with his first RBI of the season with a single through the right side. However, that was all the rally would provide as a flyout and a strikeout ended the UT Tyler threat.
 
In the bottom half of the inning, West Texas A&M finally put the game out of reach for the Patriots. A single to right field scored one run, and that brought in Judson Schaper for Lee. Schaper hit the first batter, and then walked the next, and that brought in Nathan Holmes from the Patriots bullpen. A throwing error by the third baseman brought home two more runs, and that raised the score to 13-8.
 
A pair of doubles put runners on second and third in the top of the ninth for UT Tyler, but the next two hitters went down in order and ended the threat and the ballgame.
 
Just two hitters had multi-hit games for the Patriots, but eight of the nine starters recorded a hit, and all nine starters reached base. Lukas Polanco led the way with a big 3-for-5 performance that included a pair of doubles, an RBI, and a run scored.
 
Nolan Cox got the start for the Patriots, and went five innings while allowing four earned runs and only walking two hitters and allowed just four hits. Tyler Baack got the loss in the contest after giving up three earned runs on one hit and one walk.
 
UT Tyler will now head back to Irwin Field for their first non-conference matchup of the season on Tuesday. That game will be against Arkansas-Monticello and will be the first game of a home-and-home series against the Boll Weevils this season.
 
Following the non-conference game, UT Tyler will host Eastern New Mexico at Irwin Field to resume their conference schedule. That series begins Friday, March 11 at 7 p.m. and will see a doubleheader on March 12 with the first game beginning at 3 p.m. On Sunday, the series will conclude with a 1 p.m. first pitch.