EDMOND, OKLAHOMA - #1 UT Tyler softball broke out the bats in a big way on Sunday as they powered their way to a pair of run rule wins over #18 Oklahoma Christian.
 
GAME ONE: #1 UT Tyler 12, #18 Oklahoma Christian 2
 
Game one of the day would see Kaylee Davis get the start for the Patriots, and the Eagles would jump out early with a 2-0 lead after runs in each of the first two innings. After an error in the first inning, the Eagles got a triple to make it 1-0. In the second, they used three straight singles to put their second run on the board.
 
Those two runs would end up being their only runs of the game, as Davis locked down the Eagles bats. She allowed just three hits over the last four innings of the game, with no hits past the fourth inning. Her last two frames featured three up, three down innings, locking up the win after the offense took control.
 
The Patriots would get their bats rolling in the third, starting off with the first two batters reaching base. Two batters later, Bailey Krolczyk got the Patriots on the board with a single to center field. Ka'Lyn Watson was next at the plate, and she cleared the bases with a triple to right field to make it 3-2. She came home to score on a Berlyn Grossman RBI single, and the Patriots had a 4-2 lead through two and a half innings.
 
The Patriots added two more runs in the fourth, this time off of a Krolczyk two run blast to left field. They would add two more runs in the fifth as JT Smith singled to right field to drive home one, and an errant throw would allow a second run to score as they took an 8-2 lead.
 
In the sixth inning, the Patriots would put themselves in position for the run rule as they scored four runs in the frame. Two hit by pitches put a pair of runners on, and a walk loaded the bases two batters later. Angelique Rangel would provide the big hit, tripling up the middle to make it 11-2. She would score just one batter later, as Smith added her own triple as the Patriots went ahead 12-2 for their final run of the game.
 
JT Smith went 3-for-3 with two RBI and a run, and Bailey Krolczyk went 2-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored. Angelique Rangel added a 2-for-4 day with three RBI and two runs scored as well.  
 
Kaylee Davis finished off the complete game as she went six innings. She allowed seven hits and two runs with just one earned run while striking out three in the contest.
 
GAME TWO: #1 UT Tyler 8, #18 Oklahoma Christian 0
 
Game two of the day featured a pitcher's duel over the opening innings, but the Patriots scored eight runs over the final two innings to enforce the run rule win and earn the sweep.
 
Cera Blanchard went the complete game in game two, allowing just one hit and no walks while striking out a pair. Her only blemish in the contest game in the bottom of the first, where she gave up a single to the second batter of the game before completely shutting down the Eagles. She threw just 59 pitches on the day in the 19 batters she faced as just one runner reached base for the contest.
 
As Blanchard was lights out on the mound, the Patriots found their footing offensively in the fifth. After a single and a fielder's choice, Angelique Rangel continued her big day with an RBI double to right center field to make it 1-0.
 
In the sixth, the Patriots offense exploded, beginning with a single by Bailey Krolcyzk. She would be replaced by Keona Wells, and Wells promptly stole second before Ka'Lyn Watson drew a walk.
 
Taryn Barney slugged a double to right center to plate a pair, and a hit by pitch set the Patriots up with two on. Two batters later, Sam Garcia roped a double into the right center field gap to plate both runners and make it 5-0.
 
Another walk put a pair of runners on with one out, and JT Smith stepped to the plate and hit a no-doubt home run down the right field line to make it 8-0 and put the Patriots in run-rule territory.
 
In the home half of the sixth, Blanchard would continue her near perfect day, posting a three up, three down frame to earn the win and shutout.
 
Taryn Barney went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run, JT Smith drove home three with a 1-for-4 day while scoring a run. Bailey Krolczyk went 3-for-4, and Sam Garcia went 1-for-1 with two RBI in her only plate appearance.
 
#1 UT Tyler will next head out for another road weekend as they take on St. Mary's and St. Edward's. That weekend begins March 28^th at 3 p.m. with a doubleheader against the Rattlers.