KINGSVILLE, TEXAS – UT Tyler kept their bats in good form, but the Javelinas were just a little hotter on Saturday afternoon as the series is now tied 1-1 and will head to the final contest on Sunday.
 
Both teams switched home and visitor status as the Patriots became the home team for the first time in the series. Nolan Cox was given the ball to start the game and looked to slow down Texas A&M-Kingsville in the box.
 
The Javelinas wasted no time in jumping out to a lead, launching a solo home run in the second at-bat of the game to take a 1-0 lead. In the bottom half of the inning, the Patriots responded with a walk and a single that allowed Dylan Blomquist to drive home the tying run and make it 1-1.
 
The second inning saw the Javelinas jump out in front and force Cox from the ballgame. A hit by pitch and a single put two runners on, and they moved into scoring position on a groundout. That was followed by a double and a single to drive home three runs and that brought on Harrison Lee in relief. Those bats stayed cooking, and after a strikeout the Javelinas launched a two run home run to make it 6-1 after two.
 
Three more Javelinas runs scored in the third, and the Patriots suddenly found themselves down 9-1. However, the Patriots have not gone down without a fight all season, and today was no different. Another walk and a single led off the inning, and Ethan Bedgood drove a pitch to left center field for an RBI double. A wild pitch scored another, and Blomquist again came up big with a sacrifice fly to left field to score Bedgood.
 
The Javelinas however kept their bats hot, scoring three more runs in the top of the fourth on a hit by pitch, sacrifice fly, and a fielding error. Another run followed in the fifth off of a single, and the lead stretched out to 13-4.
 
The Patriots continued to battle and show they would not go down without a fight. In the bottom of the fifth Bedgood connected on a 1-1 pitch and sent it over the left field wall for a two run home run. Two batters later, Tanner Roach made his own fireworks with a home run right down the left field line to cut the lead down to 13-7 through the fifth inning.
 
In the sixth inning, Easton Malin stepped on in relief, and after a pair of singles only managed to give up just one run off of a sacrifice fly. That led to the Patriots in the bottom half, and they responded yet again to continue to claw their way back. A walk and single put two runners on, and they moved over into scoring position on a groundout. That brought Bedgood to the box again, and he came up clutch with a two RBI single to left center field to cut the lead down to just four.
 
Another run crossed for th Javelinas in the seventh, but the Patriots came right back with a run of their own in the bottom of the inning. Roach led off with a double, and was later brought home by Alex Bruce in a pinch hit at-bat to keep the lead at four.
 
In the eighth, another solo home run made the lead five, and UT Tyler once again looked to respond quickly. After a leadoff flyout, Bedgood doubled to right field. Roach followed by reaching on an error, and Lukas Polanco walked to load the bases with two outs. However, a flyout to right field came up just a little short of the wall and the Javelinas got out of the jam.
 
In the ninth inning, Texas A&M-Kingsville came out swinging again and posted five runs in the inning to finally put the game out of reach.
 
Four Patriots posted multi-hit games on the day, and Ethan Bedgood led them all with a career day at the plate. The sophomore from Sherman, Texas went 4-for-5 on the day with two doubles, a home run, and five RBI while also scoring two runs.
 
The Patriots have now scored at least eight runs in four consecutive contests, and they will look to keep those bats hot as they try and take the final game of the series tomorrow at 1 p.m. The winner of that last contest will move on to the four team double elimination bracket portion of the LSC tournament to be hosted by #1 seed Angelo State.