TYLER, TEXAS – The UT Tyler baseball program swept their doubleheader against the Lobos in dominant fashion, as the pitching staff allowed just two earned runs over two games. The offense backed up the strong performance by scoring 22 runs in a balanced offensive attack.
GAME ONE
The Patriots came out on top in game one of the doubleheader, defeating the Lobos 7-1. All seven of their runs came in the final three innings, backed by eight total hits and a strong performance from the pitching staff, which allowed just one run early before shutting the door the rest of the way.
The Lobos struck first with a solo home run in the top of the first to take their first lead of the series. However, starter Miles Clack settled in after that, retiring the side in order in both the second and third innings while picking up two strikeouts.
The Patriots tied the game in the bottom of the fourth. Bryce Jewell led off with an infield single, followed by a walk and a sacrifice bunt to put runners on second and third with one out. Another walk loaded the bases for Mason Hammonds, who delivered to put the Patriots on the board.
In the fifth, the Patriots grabbed their first lead of the game with a three-run inning fueled by three hits and several free passes. Back-to-back walks and a fielder's choice put runners on the corners with one out. Jewell then dropped a bunt single to score a run and make it 2-1. After another single loaded the bases, Ryan Walker drove a hard single up the middle to bring in two more runs, extending the lead to 4-1.
Clack's night ended after five strong innings, allowing just one run on three hits while striking out five. Nick Niebur took over in the sixth, retiring the side in order and striking out two in his lone inning of work.
The Patriots put the game out of reach in the bottom of the sixth, scoring three more runs on just one hit, taking advantage of a Lobo error and multiple walks. A leadoff walk, a single, and a two-out walk loaded the bases. RBI walks by Tanner Hornback and Blake LaBuda pushed the lead to 6-1. Walker capped the scoring after being hit by a pitch, forcing in the seventh run.
Garrett Gearner closed things out in the seventh, striking out the side to seal the win. The Patriots' pitching staff combined to allow just three hits and one run across seven innings. Clack picked up his fifth win of the year, lowering his ERA to 3.24 over 25 innings with 19 strikeouts.
Offensively, Justin Williams and Bryce Jewell led the way with two hits each, combining to score five of the team's seven runs. Walker, who came on early as a pinch hitter, finished 1-for-1 with a walk, a hit-by-pitch, and three RBIs. He's now hitting .294 on the season with 11 RBIs.
GAME TWO
The Patriots followed up game one with a dominant 15-3 win to sweep the Saturday doubleheader and seal the series win before Sunday. The offense drew nine walks and nine different Patriots recorded at least one hit in game two.
Kyle Froehlich started on the mound in game two and worked two scoreless innings, allowing just one baserunner and striking out three.
The Patriots plated the first run of game two after Justin Williams walked, stole a base, and then scored on a Lobo error to make it 1-0 after one. UT Tyler added five in the second off four hits and another error. A Jewell single, LaBuda double, two hit-by-pitches, and a walk made it 3-0. A Williams single plated two more runs, and a Drew Schmidt single capped the inning at 6-0.
The Lobos got a run back in the third after a leadoff single, stolen base, two walks, and an infield RBI single brought the game to within five.
UT Tyler responded in their half of the third with two straight singles and a walk, eventually scoring on a fielder's choice and a Hornback steal of home to bring the lead to 8-1. In the fifth, the Patriots blew the game open with five more runs on three hits and another Sul Ross State error. Three walks loaded the bases for Kyle Atkinson, who singled to left to plate two runs.
Another came across on an error, Schmidt singled and advanced to third on the error and scored Atkinson. A fielder's choice brought Schmidt home to make it 13-1.
Sul Ross State scored their final runs in the sixth after two singles, a stolen base, and a fielder's choice plated one run. A bad throw added another, making it 13-3. The Patriots answered with two more in their half of the sixth. After a walk and an Ethan Menard double, Connor Clark singled to score one, and an Atkinson sacrifice fly brought in the final run, ending it 15-3.
The Patriot pitching staff went seven innings combined and gave up just one earned run. Nash Villegas earned the win after pitching the third and fourth innings, improving to 2-0 on the season. Kolby Parker and Silas Cowgill pitched the final three innings, allowing no earned runs and striking out four.
Offensively, the Patriots had nine different players record a hit and six different players record an RBI. Clark and Atkinson led the way with three RBIs each. LaBuda went 2-for-2 and scored twice, while Walker scored three runs in a game where he didn't register an official at-bat.
With the sweep, the Patriots improve to 32-9 on the season and have secured their seventh outright conference series win. They'll look for a series sweep on Sunday at 1 p.m.
