TYLER, TEXAS – The UT Tyler baseball team secured a series win on Sunday afternoon after an eventful doubleheader sweep at Irwin Field.
GAME ONE
The Patriots claimed a 7-2 victory over the Javelinas in the first game of their doubleheader, led by a stellar complete-game performance from Kyle Froehlich. The UT Tyler offense provided ample support, scoring seven runs on as many hits.
Froehlich started strong, retiring the Javelinas in order in the first inning with three consecutive flyouts. The Patriots quickly backed him up in the bottom half, taking an early lead after a walk and an RBI double to left-center by Blake LaBuda. Another free pass in the inning allowed Connor Clark to push an RBI single through the right side, giving UT Tyler a 2-0 advantage after one.
Texas A&M-Kingsville got on the board in the second inning, capitalizing on a leadoff double that later scored via a sacrifice bunt and a passed ball. However, Froehlich limited the damage, maintaining a 2-1 Patriots lead.
UT Tyler extended its lead in the third when Drew Schmidt led off with a triple and came home on a LaBuda fielder's choice, making it 3-1.
The Javelinas responded in the fourth, stringing together three singles to bring across another run. Once again, Froehlich contained the threat, keeping the Patriots ahead 3-2. That would be the last time Kingsville found home plate in game 1.
After a couple of scoreless innings, UT Tyler broke the game open in the sixth. Taking advantage of free passes and aggressive baserunning, the Patriots plated three runs on just two hits. A hit-by-pitch, a bunt single, and a fielder's choice set the stage for Bryce Jewell's RBI sacrifice fly. The Javelinas then turned to their bullpen, but the new Kingsville pitcher issued a wild pitch, allowing another Patriot to score. UT Tyler continued to apply pressure on the base paths, successfully stealing second and home in the same sequence. The final run of the inning came on an RBI groundout from Kyle Atkinson, pushing the lead to 7-2.
Froehlich efficiently closed out the seven-inning contest, earning the complete-game victory. He finished with a stat line of seven innings, two earned runs, and two strikeouts on just 84 pitches. The win improves his record to 4-0 on the season, lowering his ERA to 3.09.
Offensively, Tanner Hornback, LaBuda, and Schmidt each recorded two hits in the Patriots' winning effort.
GAME TWO
Game two of Sunday's double header saw a closer game, as the Patriots would squeeze out a 7-5 victory. UT Tyler would lean on a big sixth inning, and would contain a late Javelinas comeback.
Texas A&M-Kingsville took its first and only lead of the day in the second inning, capitalizing on a walk and a hit-by-pitch to set up an RBI single to right field. However, starting pitcher Dylan Blomquist quickly settled in, striking out the next two batters and inducing a groundout to end the threat.
The Javelinas' 1-0 lead was short-lived, as the Patriots responded with a six-run explosion in the bottom of the second. Bo Willis led off with a single down the right-field line, and a Kingsville throwing error put runners on second and third with no outs. Bryce Jewell tied the game with a sacrifice fly—his second of the day—before Mason Hammonds legged out an infield single to give UT Tyler a 2-1 lead. A wild pitch moved another runner into scoring position, and Connor Clark capitalized with an RBI double down the left-field line. Drew Schmidt followed with an RBI single to center, extending his hitting streak to 15 games. The Patriots capped off the rally with a 102 mph rocket over the left-field fence by Justin Williams, pushing their lead to 6-1.
Blomquist, after a long stint on the bench watching his team pile on runs, returned to the mound and retired the side in order. The Patriots tacked on another run in the third, taking advantage of a two-out error that allowed Brock Bearden to drive a single through the right side, extending the lead to 7-1.
The game quieted down until Kingsville mounted a comeback in the sixth, scoring four runs with the help of a Patriot error. The Javelinas managed only two hits in the inning but benefited from a few free passes. Their rally knocked Blomquist out of the game, who finished with an impressive line of 5.2 innings, three hits, one earned run, and seven strikeouts. Nash Villegas entered in relief, inheriting two runners with a 7-5 lead. After walking the bases loaded, he escaped trouble with a clutch lineout to center.
UT Tyler had a chance to extend its lead in the bottom of the sixth after Clark doubled and two walks loaded the bases, but the Patriots couldn't push across another run, keeping the score at 7-5 heading into the final inning.
Garrett Arredondo took the mound for UT Tyler after Villegas issued a leadoff walk. Arredondo shut down any hopes of a Javelinas comeback, striking out the first two batters before fielding a grounder himself for the final out. His strong outing secured his second save of the season and sealed the Patriots' 7-5 victory.
Clark was the only Patriot to record multiple hits in the game, but eight of UT Tyler's nine starters reached base. Williams' two-run homer was his first of the year, raising his batting average to .348 with 14 hits and 13 RBIs on the season. Blomquist improved to 3-1 with 19.2 innings pitched and a 4.12 ERA.
UT Tyler will conclude the series against Texas A&M-Kingsville on Monday at 1 p.m., looking to complete the sweep and improve their 13-2 conference record.
