TYLER, TEXAS – UT Tyler baseball kicked off homecoming weekend in dominant fashion, rolling to an 11-0 run-rule victory over Sul Ross State. The Patriots' pitching staff combined for a five-hit shutout, while the offense tallied 13 hits—including two home runs—to start the series with authority.

Rawley Hector took the mound and immediately set the tone, striking out two in the first. His offense backed him up quickly: Connor Clark led off with an infield single and advanced to second on a throwing error. After two outs, Kaston Mason launched a two-run homer to left-center to give UT Tyler an early 2-0 lead. Hector returned to the mound and struck out the side in the second inning.

The Patriots broke the game wide open in the bottom of the second, scoring five runs on five hits. Tanner Hornback started things off with a bunt single. A walk and stolen bases set up runners at second and third with no outs. Mason Hammonds knocked in one with an RBI single, followed by a two-run single from Clark. Later in the inning, Bryce Jewell added an RBI single to center, and Blake LaBuda capped the frame with a run-scoring single to make it 7-0.

UT Tyler was held scoreless in the third but added another run in the fourth thanks to a walk, single, and a Sul Ross State error, extending the lead to 8-0.

Hector wrapped up his night after five dominant innings, allowing five hits and striking out 10 of the 20 batters he faced. It marked his fourth scoreless start of the season and his second outing with double-digit strikeouts. He improved to 6-1 on the year with a 2.13 ERA and 63 strikeouts, holding opposing hitters to a .223 average.

The Patriots added their final runs in the sixth. Drew Schmidt singled, then scored on an Ethan Menard double. Jewell followed with a two-run homer—his fifth of the season—to left-center, sealing the 11-0 final. The Patriots closed out the win by shutting down the Lobos in the seventh to enforce the run-rule.

Noah Lindt pitched the final two innings in relief, allowing just one baserunner via walk and striking out four. Combined, Hector and Lindt fanned 14 of the 27 batters they faced.

Offensively, UT Tyler had three players record multi-hit games and six different players notch RBIs. Schmidt went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and now has hits in 37 of his 39 games this season. Mason's home run was his fifth of the year, bringing his season RBI total to 21. Jewell had a standout night, going 3-for-4 with three RBIs, raising his batting average to .337 and his RBI total to 31.

With the win, the Patriots reached the 30-win mark for the season. They'll look to add more in Saturday's doubleheader, beginning at 3 p.m.