SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – UT Tyler battled tough throughout Sunday's contest but unfortunately could not get the bats fired up and ultimately fell to St. Mary's to end the series.
 
The only run of the contest for the Patriots came in the first inning thanks to come early pressure. After a popout to leadoff the game, Riley Lambert walked to put a runner on first. A flyout came next, but Dylan Blomquist was hit by a pitch with two outs to put two runners aboard. That brought up Ethan Bedgood, who reached on a fielding error to bring Tommy van de Sanden to the plate. Van de Sanden answered the call and delivered a clutch single to left field to drive in the run.
 
Nick Niebur got the ball to start the Sunday finale, and went to work in the bottom half with an early lead. Niebur sat the first two hitters down over just seven pitches, but then gave up a pair of singles. With runners on the corners, Niebur settled In and forced a fielder's choice to end the inning.
 
In the bottom half of the second, St. Mary's struck back for their first run. A fielding error put the leadoff runner aboard, and two consecutive groundouts moved him to third. With two outs, Ryan McGowen stepped in and singled up the middle to drive in the tying run.
 
In the second and third inning, neither team could get their offenses working as both pitchers got into a zone. Both teams combined for just three hits and none of those batters reached second base.
 
The fifth inning saw the Rattlers jump out in front for the final time in the contest. Three straight hit by pitches loaded the bases with nobody out. A single up the middle drove in one, and a fielding error allowed a second runner to score to make it 3-1.
 
Mitchell Lee came on in relief of Niebur with no outs and two runners on. He promptly got out of the jam on just three pitches after a foulout and a lineout double play.
 
Both pitchers continued to work into a groove through the sixth and seventh innings as the two teams combined for only one hit, which came from the bat of Blomquist for a single. Lee worked a near flawless two innings, allowing only one walk and striking out the side in the seventh.
 
Lee continued his dominance on the moudn in the eighth after throwing just eight pitches that included a walk. That put the Patriots back up to the plate for their final chance of the contest in the top of the ninth inning.
 
Blomquist led off the half inning and worked an eight pitch walk to bring the tying run to the plate. That walk chased the starter from the game for the Rattlers as Bedgood tepped to the plate. He reached on a fielder's choice that saw Blomquist out at second. Van de Sanden then took his turn at the plate, but grounded into his own fielder's choice that saw Bedgood go down at second base. Lukas Polanco was the final man up with a chance to extend the game, but flew out to right center field to end the contest.
 
Dylan Blomquist recorded the only multi-hit game of the contest for UT Tyler as he produced a 2-for-2 day with a walk. Riley Lambert scored the only run of the contest after an RBI single from Tommy van de Sanden.
 
Nick Niebur collected the loss on the day to drop to 3-4 on the season. He went four innings while allowing six hits and three runs with only one of those being earned.
 
Mitchell Lee performed strongly in relief with four innings pitched and no hits allowed while striking out three and just two walks.
 
UT Tyler will now head back home to wrap up the regular season against #25 Lubbock Christian. There will be plenty of celebrations throughout the weekend as it will also double as Clements Fluids Weekend and Senior Day. Senior Day will be celebrated on April 30^th with a graduation ceremony being held before game one and a senior ceremony between the two games.