TYLER, TEXAS - #3 UT Tyler rode a fast start to a 7-4 win over no. 8 seeded St. Edward's in the opening game of the 2023 NCAA Division II South Central Regional Tournament on Thursday afternoon.
 
The Patriots plated three-runs in their first trip to the plate, a trio of runs that would prove vital as St. Edward's eventually closed the scoring margin in the late innings with a pair of two-run innings in the fourth and seventh frames. Starter Tatum Goff and relief pitcher Shea O'Leary combined to allow just a pair of earned runs while Goff collected the win to move to 35-0 on the year.
 
UT Tyler advances to meet no. 4 seeded Oklahoma Christian tomorrow afternoon at noon. Oklahoma Christian impressed in the second game of the day on Thursday, run-ruling no. 5 seeded Lubbock Christian by a 9-1 margin.
 
The Patriots managed eight hits in the ballgame and took advantage of their speed on the base paths to total the seven runs of support for the Goff-O'Leary duo in the circle. Sophomore JT Smith led off the regional tournament for the Patriots with a single and then scored on a wild pitch two batters later to get the first inning at the plate for UT Tyler started.
 
UT Tyler managed two more runs in the frame after a costly fielding error by the Hilltoppers on a walk with the bases loaded by Amanda Marek, and an RBI single from sophomore Cassidi Mullen. That 3-0 advantage held through the first three innings before St. Edward's hit a two-run homer in the top of the fourth to cut the deficit to just 3-2.
 
The Patriots immediately responded with two runs in the bottom of the frame to run the advantage back out to three. Junior Courtney Plocheck advanced on a fielder's choice that allowed pinch-runner Berlyn Grossman to score from second on a heads-up base running play.
 
Grossman avoided the tag at the plate to make it 4-2, and then watched as an RBI triple from sophomore Michelle Arias scored Plocheck on the ensuing at-bat to make it 5-2.
 
A pinch-hit double from Caitlin Wells in the bottom of the fifth put runners on second and third for the Patriots, who took advantage of another wild pitch with a runner on third base to make it 6-2. Senior Audrey Escamilla capped off the scoring with an RBI single in the bottom of the sixth to put run number seven on the board for the Patriots.
 
St. Edward's made it interesting in the top of the seventh with a pair of runs, but couldn't manage the comeback to secure win no. 32 in a row for the Patriots.
 
Smith went 2-for-4 with a run scored and five different Patriots notched an RBI to highlight the offensive output for UT Tyler in the game. Goff went 5.2 innings and conceded six hits and a pair of earned runs, while O'Leary went 1.1 innings in relief without an earned run.
 
UT Tyler and Oklahoma Christian will meet tomorrow afternoon in the first of three games scheduled for the day in a battle for a spot in Saturday's championship game.