LAST TIME OUT
 
Last weekend the Patriots took the trip to battle Texas A&M International and came back to Tyler with a 4-0 sweep of the Javelinas. The Patriots kept the bats hot all weekend scoring 7 or more runs in every game, where the pitching staff held their own by only allowing 9 runs all series. To kick off the series, Rawley Hector took the mound and tossed a 7 inning gem, where he would sit down 10 Javelinas by way of strikeout and only giving up 3 hits in the contest.  
 
NATIONAL POLLS
 
The Patriots continue to climb in all three top 25 polls this week. In the D2 Baseball poll, they are ranked 9^th, in the ABCA Coaches Poll, they are #7, and in the NCBWA Poll, they are now #12. This is the highest the Patriots have been ranked in the Division II era of the program.
 
PATRIOTS NOTES AND TRENDS

• UT Tyler finished the 2024 season 29-23 overall and 28-20 in LSC play on the way to finishing 5^th in the LSC and making their third consecutive LSC Tournament.
• The Patriots have defended their home ballpark in a big way over their first years of Division II. Going back to their first season of Division II eligibility (2022), the Patriots are 67-34 inside Irwin Field prior to the 2025 season.
• Head Coach Brent Porche enters his ninth season with UT Tyler and holds a record of 256-126 with the Patriots. He holds a career record of 403-209 in his 13 total seasons.
• On March 10^th, 2024 with a win over Texas A&M-Kingsville, Coach Porche became the all-time winningest coach in UT Tyler Baseball history, surpassing James Vilade for the top spot.
• The Patriots will return several key contributors from the 2024 season, with returning All-American Rawley Hector headlining a pitching staff that includes former All-American's Dylan Blomquist and Garrett Arredondo. Joining those pitchers will be several key bats including Blake LaBuda, Kyle Atkinson, Kaston Mason, and Connor Clark.
• Joining those returners will be a cast of highly touted newcomers. The Patriots brought in the #2 ranked JUCO class according to JBB, and also added the #34 transfer portal class according to 64 Analytics.
• Through the opening weekends, the Patriots have put together an explosive offense, ranking 6^th in Division II in doubles with 31. They are 16^th in doubles per game, 5^th in batting average, 21^st in slugging percentage, 9^th in runs, and 18^th in scoring.
• Drew Schmidt leads that strong offense, hitting .512 on the year with six doubles and a triple to go with 15 RBI and ten runs scored. Kyle Froehlich leads the Patriots in wins with a 3-0 record, holding a 3.31 ERA over three starts with 16.1 innings pitched and eight strikeouts.

 
JAVELINAS NOTES AND TRENDS

• Texas A&M - Kingsville is 9-4 on the year and 8-4 in LSC play. They have rattled off 7 straight wins and hold a 4-1 record when they are the visitors.
• Vincent Sanchez leads the offense at a .442 average thus far. He has four doubles a triple and a home run while driving in 16 runs and scoring 12 himself. He is getting on base at a .509 clip and is slugging .651.
• On the mound, Ulises Quiroga leads the way, pitching to a 0.66 ERA and a 2-0 record. Quiroga has thrown 13.2 innings while striking out 14 and is holding opponents to a .125 average.
• Head coach Jason Gonzales is currently the longest tenured coach for Texas A&M - Kingsville after starting with the program in 2008. Gonzales holds a record of 474-336 in his 17th season with the Javelinas.