TYLER, TEXAS - #3 UT Tyler softball moved to 39-4 on the year and 30-4 in LSC play on Sunday as they split their doubleheader and the season series with St. Mary's.
 
GAME ONE: #3 UT Tyler: 3, St. Mary's: 5
 
Game one belonged to the Rattlers on Sunday, as they used a clutch four run inning in the top of the sixth to give themselves the lead for good.
 
An RBI double in the first inning would give them a one run lead on starter Kaylee Davis, but she would lock things down with a strikeout and a groundout. She allowed just two more baserunners in the second through fifth innings, including two separate streaks of five straight batters retired.
 
In the bottom of the third, the Patriots would even up the game, using a pair of hit by pitches and a groundout to put runners in scoring position. Ka'Lyn Watson would be at the plate, and she hit a hit popup just into left field that would be dropped and allow JT Smith to scamper home to tie the game.
 
In the home half of the fifth, the first two Patriots went down in order, but Ka'Lyn Watson sparked a two out rally as she drove a home run just over the right field wall to break the tie. Miia Campos would reach via single, and then she came around to score on an errant throw after Abbie Behe singled to right field.
 
In the top of the sixth however, the Rattlers would strike back, getting a walk and then a fielder's choice led to a throwing error that allowed a run to score. Primrose Aholelei would take over for Davis, but the Rattlers drew a hit by pitch and a walk to lead off the outing. The next batter would strike out, but a triple to center field plated three more runs and the Rattlers had the lead.
 
The Patriots were unable to get the offense moving in the sixth or seventh inning, and would fall by a final score of 5-3.
 
GAME TWO: #3 UT Tyler: 10, St. Mary's: 0
 
Game two of the day would see the Patriots offense come alive as they torched the Rattlers for 10 runs over the first four innings of play.
 
That run scoring effort began with one run in the first, as JT Smith reached on a single before moving to second on a passed ball. Sam Schott was next up, and she delivered a rocket single up the middle to make it 1-0 quickly.
 
The avalanche continued in the second, as the Patriots tacked on five runs. Singles from Behe and Campos put two on, and a fielder's choice and an error allowed one run to score. The next batter to the plate was Smith, and she doubled to right center to plate two more runs. Schott added another RBI single as the next batter, and then she would come around to score as Ka'Lyn Watson singled down the left field line to make it 6-0.
 
In the third, two more runs would come around to score as Smith drove home another run with an RBI single. Keona Wells would follow by trotting home on a wild pitch, and the Patriots led 8-0 after just three innings.
 
UT Tyler would score two more final runs in the fourth inning, beginning with a leadoff home run by Jordyn De Los Santos to right center. Later in the inning, Campos drove home Hailey Fannin with a double to right field off the wall, and the Patriots led 10-0.
 
Cera Blanchard would be nearly perfect for the Patriots to back up the hot offense. She allowed a leadoff single in the first, and then never allowed another batter to reach base for St. Mary's as she threw a complete game one hitter.
 
She struck out four Rattlers, including a pair in the second inning. Not a single batted ball from the Rattlers would reach the outfield, with every out coming via strikeout or groundout to the Patriots infield. Her final line was 5.0 innings with one hit and four strikeouts.
 
JT Smith led the Patriots offense with a 3-for-3 day with 3 RBI and 2 runs scored. Sam Schott went 2-for-2 with 2 RBI and 1 run, and Miia Campos went 3-for-3 with 1 RBI and 2 runs scored.
 
#3 UT Tyler will now face Texas A&M-Kingsville on Wednesday and Texas A&M International on Friday. Both of those doubleheaders will take place on the road. The Patriots will next return to Irwin Field on April 22^nd as they take on Texas Woman's.