OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA – Oklahoma Christian scored four runs in the bottom half of the seventh inning after the Patriots tied the game in the top of the inning and that provided all the difference as the Eagles closed out UT Tyler 9-6 on opening day of the 2023 season.
Both teams went back and fourth over the first six and a half innings as there was at least one run scored in all but one of those innings. Both teams were able to get two runners on in the first inning, but were unable to come away with any runs. For the Patriots,
Carson Cox led off with an infield single before a double play took him off the bases. A pair of walks ensued, but a flyout ended the threat.
Nick Niebur got the ball to start the game for UT Tyler, and got off to a rough start with a walk and then a pair of singles to load the bases. However, Niebur dug deep and sat down the next three in order with two strikeouts and a fielder's choice to get out of the jam.
The Patriots would strike first in the game thanks to taking advantage of free passes and timely hitting. After both
Dylan Blomquist and
Tommy van de Sanden were hit by pitch,
Riley Lambert singled to right to drive in the first Patriots run of the year. Lambert then drew the throw while trying to steal second that allowed van de Sanden to steal home and the Patriots went up 2-0.
The lead would be cut down to just one in the bottom half, as the Eagles struck back with a solo home run. That lead would climb right back to two in the third as the Patriots capitalized on an error and
Ethan Bedgood came away with an RBI single.
The bottom of the fourth saw the wheels begin to turn for the Eagles offense. After a leadoff double followed by a walk and a balk, the Eagles had runners in scoring position with no outs. A sac fly to center field drove in a run, and that spelled the end of Niebur's day.
Miles Clack checked in, and another double drove in the second run before Clack induced a pair of groundouts to end the inning.
UT Tyler and Oklahoma Christian traded runs in the fifth inning, and
Travis Onisto stepped in for Clack to close out the bottom half of the inning. In the sixth, the Eagles broke the tie with a hit by pitch and an RBI single after a steal. A pair of doubles from Bedgood and
Adrian Minjares tied up the game again in the seventh, but it was the Eagles who finally took control in the bottom of the inning.
Harrison Lee stepped on the bump for the inning in replacement of Onisto, and the Eagles jumped out with four runs thanks to a two run home run, an RBI single, and then scoring off of an error.
Lane Hutchinson drilled a homer to left center in an effort to get the Patriots offense rolling in the top of the eighth, but that would be the final run of the game for either side as the Eagles closed out the game.
Harrison Lee picked up the loss on the day after giving up four runs in two innings pitched.
On the offensive side, Hutchinson,
Austin Ochoa, Bedgood, and Minjares all collected extra base hits. Minjares finished as the only Patriot with two or more RBI and Bedgood was the only Patriot with two or more hits.
UT Tyler gets a quick chance to bounce back as they face the Eagles in a doubleheader on Sunday afternoon beginning at 1 p.m. Tomorrow's action will feature two seven inning contests before the series concludes on Monday at 1 p.m. with a normal nine inning game.
