Box Score SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – Dylan Blomquist earned his seventh win of the season after another strong start and got plenty of run support as the Patriots took the early lead in the four game series over St. Mary's on Friday night.
 
The Patriots wasted no time in putting up runs for their ace pitcher as they jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning of the game. Tommy van de Sanden reached on an error and was moved to third by a Kyle McShaffry single to put runners on the corners with just one out. That brought Ethan Bedgood to the plate, who drove in the first run of the game with a productive groundout to the shortstop to allow van de Sanden to jog home.
 
In the bottom half of the inning, Blomquist wasted no time as he induced a lineout to the leadoff batter to start his outing. The second hitter singled up the middle, but Blomquist responded with a strikeout to put two outs on the board. On the next pitch, Cade Watson fired a laser to second base to catch the runner trying to steal and end any threat.
 
In the bottom of the second, the Rattlers evened up the score with a big home run to left field to lead off the inning. Blomquist settled in after the big shot with two strikeouts and a groundout while working around a walk to limit the damage to just one.
 
In the top half of the third, the Patriots answered right back with a double from van de Sanden followed by an RBI single from McShaffry to put the Patriots back in front. However, that was matched yet again as the Rattlers responded with three consecutive singles in the bottom half to level the score at two.
 
The fifth inning is what saw the Patriots break open the game and begin to pull away. A single and an error put a pair of runners on, and Hayden Clearman delivered a single down the left field line to score one. Two batters later, McShaffry stepped to the plate and came up clutch with a double down the right field line to drive in two more.
 
In the sixth, the bats struck again, this time taking advantage of a throwing error that allowed Carson Cox to make his way home after reaching on a walk earlier in the inning. In the seventh, A wild pitch and a passed ball allowed Clearman and McShaffry each to score. Finally, in the eighth inning, Cox led off with a single and made his way to third after a throwing error and another wild pitch. That allowed Tanner Roach to produce a productive groundout to second base that allowed him to drive in the ninth run of the game for UT Tyler.
 
Blomquist settled in and didn't allow another run after the RBI single in the third inning. He worked a 1-2-3 fourth, and got out of a bases loaded jam in the fifth to keep the Rattlers at bay. In the sixth, he worked around a pair of singles by inducing three groundouts to end his night.
 
The seventh inning saw Hayden Collins come on in relief, and he started strongly with a flyout, a popout, and a groundout while allowing just one walk in his first inning of work. In the eighth, the Rattlers started with a groundout, but then earned their first base hit off of Collins with a double to right center. That runner was stranded after Collins struck out the next two hitters, one looking and one swinging.
 
As the Rattlers needed a big rally in the ninth, Collins answered the call by working an eight pitch inning and shutting down any rally hopes for St. Mary's.
 
All nine Patriots hitters reached base on the evening either by hit or by walk. Kyle McShaffry's dazzling 4-for-5 performance led the way as he chipped in three RBI's and scored a run.
 
Dylan Blomquist earned the win after going six full innings. Blomquist scattered nine hits while allowing just two runs. He walked only one batter and struck out eight batters.
 
In relief, Hayden Collins earns the save after pitching three complete innings. He allowed just one hit and one walk while striking out two.
 
Next up is a doubleheader for the Patriots on Saturday that is set to begin at 2 p.m. Game two of tomorrow's two game set will begin approximately 35 minutes after the conclusion of game one. The series will wrap up on Sunday with a 1 p.m. first pitch.