AUSTIN, TEXAS – The UT Tyler baseball team turned the series around with two impressive wins on Saturday. The Patriots' starting pitchers combined for 12.1 innings, allowing just two runs. Meanwhile, the offense delivered a standout performance, tallying 12 runs on 22 hits throughout the day.

GAME ONE

The Patriots secured their first win of the day with a dominant complete-game shutout by starting pitcher Kyle Froehlich. The offense provided strong support, highlighted by standout performances from Bryce Jewell and Tanner Hornback at the plate.

The Patriots struck first in the top of the second inning after Kyle Froehlich set the Hilltoppers down in order. Drew Schmidt got things rolling with a double to center, and Hornback wasted no time, ripping an RBI double down the line to give UT Tyler a 1-0 lead. Jewell followed with an RBI single to left, plating Hornback and extending the Patriots' advantage to 2-0.

Froehlich continued to dominate on the mound, striking out three in the third and retiring the side in the fourth with the help of a double play. The Patriots added another run in the top of the fifth when Justin Williams laced an RBI double, pushing the lead to 3-0. Froehlich returned to the mound in the bottom half and once again shut down the Hilltoppers in order.

UT Tyler broke the game open in the sixth, fueled by a power surge. After back-to-back singles and a sacrifice bunt moved runners into scoring position, Hornback delivered a game-changing three-run blast over the left-field fence. Before the Patriots' dugout could finish celebrating, Jewell followed with a solo shot of his own, marking UT Tyler's first back-to-back home runs of the season and sealing the eventual 7-0 victory.

Froehlich finished his masterpiece in the seventh, the Hilltoppers failed to get a runner in scoring position after the third inning. He secured his first shutout of the year on just 86 pitches, improving to 5-0 in as many starts. Over his last four outings, he has thrown three complete games and now boasts a 2.37 ERA across 30.1 innings with 15 strikeouts.

Hornback had a stellar day at the plate, going 2-for-3 with two extra-base hits and four RBIs, including his first home run of the season. Jewell also impressed, finishing 2-for-3 with two RBIs and his second homer of the year.

GAME TWO

The second game of the doubleheader was a tighter contest, but the Patriots once again benefited from a strong start, this time from Dylan Blomquist. UT Tyler needed just one bullpen arm all day, allowing them to efficiently secure the sweep. While the Patriots didn't go deep in this one, they continued to deliver clutch hits to seal the victory.

UT Tyler struck first in the opening inning, capitalizing with two outs. After back-to-back walks, Drew Schmidt ripped a two-run triple, giving the Patriots an early 2-0 lead. Blomquist then took the mound and picked up right where Kyle Froehlich left off, retiring the Hilltoppers in order.

The Patriots tacked on another run in the second. Tanner Hornback singled through the left side, stole second, and advanced to third on a flyout. Cade Conway then drove him in with an RBI single, extending the lead to 3-0.

The game remained quiet until the fifth, when UT Tyler struck again. A leadoff single set the table, followed by an Ethan Menard RBI double. Menard then came around to score on a Bo Willis single to right, pushing the lead to 5-0. That would be the Patriots' final run of the game.

St. Edward's finally snapped its 11-inning scoring drought in the bottom of the fifth. After two leadoff singles, the Hilltoppers plated both runners with a base hit to center, cutting the deficit to 5-2. That would be the only offense they mustered, as the Patriots' pitching staff shut them down the rest of the way.

Blomquist remained on the mound to start the sixth, but after allowing a leadoff single and recording a flyout, he was relieved by Nick Niebur. Blomquist wrapped up his day with 5.1 innings pitched, allowing just two runs on 77 pitches.

Niebur took care of business, escaping the sixth unscathed and closing out the game for UT Tyler. He finished with 1.2 innings of work, allowing just one hit while striking out one to secure the 5-2 victory. Blomquist improved to 4-1 on the season, lowering his ERA to 3.96, while Niebur earned his second save and dropped his ERA to 1.29 over seven innings pitched.

Offensively, Justin Williams and Schmidt were the only Patriots with multiple hits in Game 2. Williams went 2-for-3, scored twice, and stole a base, while Schmidt finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a stolen base. Hornback also swiped two bags.

Schmidt had an impressive doubleheader, going 4-for-8 with two extra-base hits and two RBIs. Hornback shined as well, finishing 3-for-6 with two extra-base hits, four RBIs, three runs scored, and two stolen bases.

With the sweep, UT Tyler improves to 16-3 on the season and boasts a 9-1 record on the road. The Patriots will look to secure the series win on Sunday at 1 p.m.