SAN ANGELO, TEXAS - UT Tyler found their offense that had been missing in a huge way on Thursday afternoon as the Patriots exploded for a big win in their first appearance in the NCAA Tournament in the Division II era.
MSU Denver got themselves on the board first, as they would drive home a run on a fielder's choice. Starter
Dylan Blomquist got himself out of the jam with a flyout and a strikeout to end the inning. He would respond in a big way in the second, getting a strikeout and two groundouts to put up a scoreless frame.
In the bottom of the second, the Patriots fireworks began as
Lane Hutchinson took the first pitch he saw deep over the left field wall. Following him up was
Hayden Clearman, who took the second pitch he saw and delivered an opposite field blast to make it quickly 2-0.
Later on in the inning,
Jordan Gochenour posted his second of four doubles on the day to bring home a pair of runs, and the Patriots held a 4-1 lead.
Dylan Blomquist was locked in after that quick second inning, and worked a 1-2-3 third inning. He would go on to strike out a pair in the fourth in another scoreless frame, and in the fifth allowed just a single along with no runs to continue to keep the pressure off.
The Roadrunners would tag him for just two more runs on the day, as they plated one in the sixth and the eighth innings. Blomquist for the day finished with eight full innings and scattered six hits. He allowed three runs, two of which were earned, and struck out five hitters while issuing no walks in what was a dominant effort on the mound.
That effort from Blomquist did not go unnoticed by the offense, as they seemed to be even further spurred on to post a big day at the plate. Two more runs would score in the third, as
Adrian Minjares posted a sacrifice fly and then
Carson Cox would drive home Clearman.
In the fourth inning, the Patriots again found themselves with a big inning, as
Austin Ochoa doubled to left field for an RBI. Hutchinson drove in another with a sacrifice fly, and then Clearman would rock his second homer of the night to left center field for a 10-1 lead.
The Patriots slowed down just a little bit in the fifth, as they scored just one run on an RBI single from
Ethan Bedgood. However, the offense would roar back to life in the sixth as Clearman posted his fourth RBI of the night on a single to center field. Minjares would drop down a bunt that forced an error, and Hutchinson would come around to score. The next batter at the plate was Cox, and he drove a pitch the other way that just cleared the wall for yet another Patriots two run blast and a dominant 15-2 lead.
One run would cross the plate in the seventh inning as Minjares delived an RBI single, and another run was added in in the eighth inning with another Bedgood RBI single.
For the day, the Patriots totaled 21 hits and 17 runs in a dominant 17-4 showing. Jordan Gochneour led the efforts as he put together a 4-for-5 game that included four doubles. Gochenour also tied the single season UT Tyler doubles record of 22 on the day.
Only one Patriots starter recorded less than two hits, and four different players picked up at least three hits.
Hayden Clearman would have a game-high four RBI as he slugged a pair of homers and also scored three runs.
Austin Ochoa went 3-for-5 with four runs scored, an RBI, and a walk.
Ethan Bedgood also attached his named to a UT Tyler record, as he ties the Patriots record for hits in a season with 88 after going 2-for-5 on the day with two RBI and a run scored.
UT Tyler will now await their next opponent as #1 seed Angelo State will take on #5 seed MSU Denver tonight. The game is currently delayed due to weather in the area, and has yet to start. Tomorrow's contest will start at 6:30 p.m.
