TYLER, TEXAS - #3 UT Tyler softball moved to 45-4 on the year and 36-4 in LSC competition as they took two run-rule wins over Texas Woman's on Tuesday.
 
GAME ONE: #3 UT Tyler: 8, Texas Woman's: 0
 
The Patriots got out to the early lead in game one as they put the pressure on the Pioneer defense in the first inning. After JT Smith led off with a hit by pitch, Sam Schott laid down the sacrifice bunt that ultimately led to a throwing error that allowed Smith to come all the way around and score. Two batters later, Taryn Barney would drive home Schott with an RBI single up the middle to make it 2-0.
 
Kaylee Davis would start the game in the circle, and she blanked the Pioneers for the entire game as she went all five innings for the Patriots. She didn't allow her first hit until the third inning, but had already totaled three strikeouts to that point and had only allowed one player to reach second base.
 
She would work a 1-2-3 fourth, setting up the Patriots for a big rally in the home half. After an error and a single put a pair on the corners, Alaunah Almaraz singled up the middle as a pinch hitter to drive home the first run. A walk loaded the bases, and Schott would deliver a sacrifice fly to make it 4-0. Two batters later, Ka'Lyn Watson drilled a double through the left side, plating another pair of runs to make it 6-0.
 
Davis would hit the first batter of the fifth, but a flyout double play to Smith in center field erased the runner as Smith doubled off the runner at first. Davis would strikeout the last batter of the inning, ultimately becoming the final batter she would face.
 
In the bottom of the fifth, the Patriots led off with two walks before a sacrifice bunt moved them into scoring position. Two more walks would follow, walking in a run and keeping the bases loaded. That set up Smith to play the role of hero, and she slugged a fly ball deep to center for a sacrifice fly that would end the game at 8-0.
 
Davis ended with a five inning complete game shutout as she allowed just one hit and struck out four in a dominant effort. On offense, Watson drove home a pair while five others recorded at least one RBI.
 
 GAME TWO: #3 UT Tyler: 8, Texas Woman's: 0
 
Game two saw a slightly different effort for the Patriots, as they plated all eight runs in just the first three innings of play on their way to the win.
 
That effort began in the first, as Sam Schott slugged a one out double to left center field and was followed by a Bailey Krolczyk walk. The next batter to the plate was Taryn Barney, and she hammered a pitch over the center field wall for a three run blast to make it 3-0.
 
In the second inning, a leadoff hit by pitch followed by a popout and a fielder's choice meant two outs and one on for JT Smith, and she responded with a tape measure home run over the right field wall to make it 5-0 after just two frames.
 
In the third, the Patriots continued the home run barrage. A hit by pitch and an infield single followed by a sacrifice bunt put a pair of runners on for Miia Campos, and she slugged a pitch off the right field foul pole for a three run home run to make it 8-0.
 
While the Patriots scored all of their runs via the long ball, starter Cera Blanchard twirled a gem in the circle. She struck out the side in the first around a hit by pitch, and added another strikeout in the second to keep the Pioneers scoreless. In the third inning the Pioneers finally got on with their first hit and an error, but Blanchard posted a strikeout and a groundout to put up a third straight zero. She would end her day in the fourth, getting a popout double play to shortstop Megan Geyer and then getting another soft groundout for a fourth straight blank inning.
 
She handed the ball to Primrose Aholelei for the final inning of play, and she struck out the side, all swinging, to end the contest.
 
Smith, Barney, and Campos each hit a home run in game two, with Barney and Campos driving in three and Smith two. Eight different Patriots recorded a run in the second game of the day.
 
#3 UT Tyler will now set their sights on their final weekend of the regular season as they host #16 Oklahoma Christian on Friday beginning at 4 p.m. and Cameron on Sunday beginning at 1 p.m.