TYLER, TEXAS - #1 UT Tyler softball battled their way to a split on Monday afternoon with #5 Angelo State at Irwin Field.
GAME ONE
The Patriots looked as strong as ever in game one of the afternoon, forcing the Rambelles through three different pitchers while scoring 13 runs and completing a run rule win in just five innings of work.
Primrose Aholelei got the start, working a pair of scoreless frames to begin the game while working around a single and a walk in the second inning.
The Patriots gave her early run support as
JT Smith came around to score on an RBI double from
Alaunah Almaraz, and Almaraz scored on a triple by
Ka'Lyn Watson to make it 2-0.
That lead doubled in the second, this time as
Sam Schott drove a deep triple down the right field line that plated both Smith and
Miia Campos to give the Patriots a 4-0 lead.
The Rambelles struck for their only runs of the contest in the third inning, hitting a home run to left field to cut the deficit in half and put the pressure back on the Patriots. Aholelei put up another scoreless frame in the fourth, getting out of a one out, bases loaded jam to keep the Patriots out in front.
The offense would extend their lead back to four in the fourth inning, this time as
Bailey Krolczyk doubled to deep cetner field, allowing both Smith and Schott to come around and score.
In the bottom of the fifth, a pair of doubles from
Taryn Barney and Campos led to a quick run, and an error brought home another run to make it 8-2. Later in the inning, Almaraz would drive in a run with a single to right center, putting the Patriots just one run away from the run-rule.
Watson drew a tough walk over a long at-bat, setting up
Jordyn De Los Santos with the chance to end the game. She would capitalize, driving a home run over the right field wall for a grand slam and a 13-2 Patriots win.
Aholelei went all five innings while allowing five hits and two runs. She issued just two walks and struck out three.
Four different Patriots drove in at least two runs, and nine different Patriots recorded a run scored.
GAME TWO
Game two of the day would see a pitcher's duel between the two sides, as they each combined for just five runs scored.
Neither side found much momentum in the third three innings, as
Cera Blanchard put together three straight zeroes on the board while striking out three hitters.
The Rambelles would strike first in the contest, taking advantage of a fielder's choice that brought a run home from third and a double steal that scored a second run in the top of the fourth inning.
The Patriots responded with a run of their own in the home half, using a clutch RBI single from
Sam Garcia to bring home
Ka'Lyn Watson after she recorded a double down the left field line.
After a pair of singles around a strikeout,
Kaylee Davis would enter the game for Blanchard and take over. The Rambelles would plate a run via a wild pitch, but Davis got a clutch double play to close out the inning that would end the bases loaded opportunity.
Neither side would plate a run over the next two frames, and the Patriots would get back to within a run in the bottom of the sixth as they took advantage of an RBI single from Garcia that plated Watson yet again.
Davis put up a big zero yet again in the seventh inning, but the Patriots offense couldn't find the late run to extend the game and fell by a score of 3-2.
Ka'Lyn Watson scored both runs in the second contest for the Patriots and
Sam Garcia recorded two hits and two RBI in the effort.
UT Tyler will now set their sights on their second LSC road trip of the season as they head west to take on #8 West Texas A&M and Midwestern State on Friday and Sunday.
