PORTALES, N.M. – The University of Texas at Tyler baseball program battled back from an early deficit to claim a 7-4 victory over Eastern New Mexico in the series opener. The Patriots overcame a slow start, seizing momentum in the fifth inning and adding insurance runs late to secure the win.
After a quiet first inning at the plate, starting pitcher Rawley Hector took the mound for UT Tyler. Though he allowed a leadoff single, the Patriots erased the runner with a caught stealing and Hector retired the next two batters to face the minimum. Eastern New Mexico broke through in the second inning, however, using another leadoff single and a two-out double to take a 1-0 lead. The Greyhounds extended their advantage in the third with a solo home run, making it 2-0.
UT Tyler's offense came alive in the fifth. After a leadoff walk and an error put two runners on, Cade Conway delivered an RBI double to right field, cutting the deficit to 2-1. The Patriots struck again in the next at-bat when Justin Williams crushed a three-run homer to center field, giving UT Tyler a 4-2 lead.
From there, the game turned into a pitching duel. The Patriots tacked on another run in the seventh after a hit-by-pitch, a single, and a throwing error stretched their lead to 5-2.
Hector, who settled in after the third inning, wrapped up his night with a dominant seventh. He finished with nine strikeouts over seven innings, marking his fifth start of six or more innings this season and his fourth outing with at least nine strikeouts. He improved to 3-1 on the year, lowering his ERA to 1.96 while reaching 47 strikeouts in 41.1 innings.
Eastern New Mexico threatened in the eighth against the Patriots' bullpen, using three singles and a walk to trim the lead to 5-4. Reliever Garrett Arredondo entered with two outs and promptly ended the threat by retiring the first batter he faced.
UT Tyler responded immediately in the ninth. Mason Hammonds led off with a double, setting the stage for Williams once again. The senior crushed his second home run of the day, this time to left field, pushing the lead to 7-4 and giving him five RBIs in the game.
Arredondo slammed the door in the ninth, retiring the Greyhounds in order, including two strikeouts. He needed just 12 pitches—none of them balls—to secure his fourth save of the season, lowering his ERA to 2.92.
Offensively, Conway and Williams led the way with multi-hit performances, while seven different Patriots recorded a hit. Williams continued his torrid stretch, blasting his fourth and fifth home runs of the season and boosting his team-leading RBI total to 28. He now holds a stellar .410 batting average.
With the win, UT Tyler improves to 20-6 overall and 12-2 on the road. The Patriots will look to carry their momentum into Sunday's doubleheader against Eastern New Mexico, with first pitch set for 2 p.m.
