ODESSA, TEXAS – UT Tyler baseball scored 33 runs on 38 hits over both seven inning games on Saturday afternoon as they dominated both games to take a 2-1 series lead heading into Sunday's finale.
 
GAME ONE
 
The Patriots wasted no time in getting ahead in game one, as they posted a pair of runs in the top of the first. A single from Jordan Gochenour and Kaston Mason reaching on an error set up two runners on, and Austin Ochoa would reach on an error that would allow Gochenour to score. Tommy van de Sanden would double to left center and score the second run of the inning.
 
Two more runs would come across in the third inning as Ethan Bedgood tripled to center and then scored on an Ochoa single, and Adrian Minjares later scored Ochoa on a sacrifice fly.
 
Miles Clack was the man with the ball to start the game, and he worked three consecutive scoreless innings to begin the game. Clack posted four strikeouts over those three innings and allowed just one hit.
 
The Patriots would blow the game wide open in the fourth inning, as Carson Cox, Edward Ortiz, and Gochenour reached on a hit by pitch, a single, and a walk to load the bases. Mason would single home the first run, and Ochoa two batters later would connect on a grand slam to left field to make it a 9-0 lead for the Patriots.
 
The Falcons would finally get to Clack for their first run in the fourth inning of the game after a pair of singles and a fielder's choice. However, the Patriots got the run right back with another RBI single from Mason as he brought home Gochenour. Clack would finish out his outing with a pair of strikeouts and a flyout in the fifth inning.
 
Leading 10-1, the Patriots would pack on three more runs in the sixth behind a two RBI triple from Hayden Clearman and then Cox singling home Clearman in the next at-bat.
 
A.J. Irvin would come on to finish out the game for Clack, and he worked a quick 1-2-3 inning in the sixth. In the top half of the seventh, the Patriots dropped in four more runs on five hits as both Clearman and Ortiz had RBI singles and Riley Lambert had a two RBI triple to left center.
 
With the Falcons last hope in the bottom of the seventh, a single and a double would allow the second run of the game to score, but Irvin worked around it with a strikeout, groundout, and a popout to end the inning and the game.
 
Miles Clack picked up his sixth win of the year on five innings pitched. He allowed just four hits and one earned run. He also posted six strikeouts and two walks.
 
Eight different Patriots had at least two hits on the day, as Austin Ochoa led all hitters with three hits. Four Patriots had at least two RBI's, also led by Ochoa with five.
 
GAME TWO
 
To start game two, Brayden Freeman got the ball and worked a 1-2-3 inning. That opened up the door for the Patriots in the second inning, and Edward Ortiz would drill a double down the left field line that scored both Carson Cox and Tommy van de Sanden.
 
The Falcons would bounce back from the early deficit as a caught stealing drew the throw and allowed a runner from third to score. A solo home run to left field would tie up the game before Freeman got the final two outs on groundouts.
 
Just as they did in game one of the doubleheader, the Patriots would bounce right back from Falcons runs as they scored two more runs to take the lead again. Ethan Bedgood doubled down the line, and Austin Ochoa followed by reaching on an error. That brought up Blake LaBuda, who doubled to right center field to drive them both home.
 
Freeman faced the minimum in the bottom of the third after a flyout, caught stealing, and then a popup. That scoreless inning led to three more runs for the Patriots offense as they continued their hot streak at the plate. Bedgood singled home a run, and Ochoa followed up with a single that plated the last two runs to lead to a 7-2 lead for the Patriots.
 
The top of the fifth saw the Patriots completely broke the game open with seven runs on six hits. Nathan Carriere led off the scoring by knocking home LaBuda with a triple. Cox followed with a single to score Carriere. Gochenour would single home another run two batters later, and after a Kaston Mason walk, Bedgood drove a pitch deep over the left field wall for a three run blast. Just one batter later, Ochoa would follow with his own home run for the seventh run of the inning.
 
Freeman would close out his day after two scoreless innings in both the fourth and fifth innings as he went six up six down with a pair of strikeouts.
 
The final two runs of the game for the Patriots would cross the plate in the top of the sixth inning as Ortiz drove home a run with a double down the left field line. Just two batters later, Mason followed with his own double and the Patriots had a 16-2 lead.
 
Justin Schrader would come on to close out the game, and worked a 1-2-3 sixth inning with a lineout, strikeout, and a groundout to third. In the seventh inning, the Falcons would get on the board for the third time in the game after a double and an error. Schrader would close out the game with a pair of strikeouts and a fielder's choice.
 
Brayden Freeman picked up his third win of the season after scattering four hits and allowing just two runs. He also struck out two and gave up just one walk.
 
Six different Patriots hitters picked up at least two hits as both Ethan Bedgood and Edward Ortiz had a team-high three hits. Four different Patriots also had at least two RBI as Bedgood led the way with four.
 
The Patriots will look for the series win on Sunday as they get started at 12 p.m.