TYLER, TEXAS – UT Tyler baseball trucks on with another series win as they take three out of four games from Texas A&M-Kingsville thanks to a big day on the mound from Nolan Cox and a big day from Jordan Gochenour at the plate.
 
A double followed by a single from the Javelinas in the top of the first inning put them out in front early, but starter Nolan Cox settled in with back to back strikeouts to end the rally. In the second inning, he kept on dealing, getting three groundouts around a walk. In the third, he induced a popout and a strikeout, and then picked off the lone runner of the inning to keep the Javelinas at bay.
 
The Patriots offense began to churn in the third inning, as Edward Ortiz and Bryce Jewell both worked walks in patient at-bats. A sacrifice bunt from Carson Cox moved the runners over, but a strikeout had the rally searching. In stepped Jordan Gochenour, and he delivered a clutch single through the right side for a pair of RBI.
 
Cox would finally allow his third hit in the fourth inning, but he stranded the runner with a flyout and a fielder's choice to keep the lead in favor of UT Tyler. After a leadoff hit by pitch in the fifth, Cox got a strikeout and then a caught stealing assist from Adrian Minjares to clear the bases. One more walk would follow, but a popout ended the inning.
 
Cox would turn the ball over to reliever Garrett Arredondo to start the sixth inning, and despite the leadoff walk, he sat the next three hitters down in order to continue the big day for Patriots pitching. In the seventh inning, the Javelinas had arguably their biggest chance since the first inning as they led off with a single. That single was followed by two consecutive strikeouts from Arredondo, but a throwing error moved the runner over to third with two outs. Arredondo would rise to the challenge again, forcing the Javelinas into a groundout that ended the inning.
 
After Arredondo again worked a big inning by shutting down a potential Javelinas rally, the Patriots offense stepped up again after a key walk to start the inning.
 
Jewell drew his second walk of the game, and Cox singled up the middle to move him to third. Another strikeout followed, but Gochenour came through again with the squeeze bunt that scored Jewell and moved Cox to second. Austin Ochoa stepped into the box next, and laced a double to left center field to drive in the fourth run of the game.
 
Logan Henderson got the ball from Arredondo to start the ninth inning, and he worked a 1-2-3 inning that featured a pair of strikeouts and a groundout to end the game and pick up his first save of the season.
 
Nolan Cox picked up his third win of the season after going five full innings while allowing just three hits and one earned run. He allowed three walks but struck out five.
 
Garrett Arredondo allowed three hits in his three innings of work, but gave up one walk and struck out three in his hold. Logan Henderson picked up his first save of the season in the ninth with two strikeouts.
 
Jordan Gochenour was the big hero of the day on offense as he went 1-3 but had three RBI thanks to a single and a sacrifice squeeze bunt. Austin Ochoa drove in the fourth run of the game and Bryce Jewell drew a pair of walks.
 
The Patriots head back out on the road next week as they head to Austin, Texas for a matchup with #19 St. Edward's. That four game series kicks off on Friday, March 17^th, at 1 p.m.