TYLER, TEXAS – The UT Tyler Baseball program delivered a commanding 10-1 win over Texas A&M-Kingsville in game one of the opening round of the Lone Star Conference Tournament. The Patriots outhit the Javelinas 10-3 and executed in clutch moments while the pitching staff held firm, allowing no earned runs.

Rawley Hector got the start and set the tone early, retiring the first 16 batters he faced. A strong pitching duel kept the game scoreless until the bottom of the fourth, when UT Tyler struck first. After a leadoff walk, Kaston Mason launched a no-doubt home run to right field, putting the Patriots up 2-0.

In the fifth, the Patriots tacked on another run. Two walks and a single through the left side by Bryce Jewell extended the lead to 3-0.

Texas A&M-Kingsville broke up Hector's perfect game in the sixth, reaching base on an error followed by a single and another miscue, leading to their only run of the game. Hector wrapped up seven innings of work, allowing just one hit and no earned runs, while striking out five.

UT Tyler broke the game wide open in the seventh. After loading the bases with two walks and a bunt single, Blake LaBuda drove in a run with a groundout. Tanner Hornback followed with a sacrifice fly to make it 5-1. Another walk reloaded the bases, and Mason Hammonds cleared them with a three-run double to right center, pushing the lead to 8-1.

The Patriots capped off the scoring in the eighth. Drew Schmidt opened the inning with a double, and two batters later, Jewell launched a two-run homer—his seventh of the season—making it 10-1.

Nick Niebur and Julio Garcia closed out the eighth and ninth innings, respectively, sealing the win and holding the Javelinas to two hits in the final two frames. The UT Tyler pitching staff allowed just three hits in the game, with Hector improving to 8-1 on the year with a 2.80 ERA and 72 strikeouts across 70.2 innings.

Four Patriots recorded multi-hit games. Jewell finished 3-for-5 with three RBIs and a homer. Mason went a perfect 2-for-2 with his ninth home run of the season. Atkinson and Hammonds also tallied two hits each, with Hammonds driving in three runs.

With the win, the Patriots have now won 15 straight and will look to clinch the best-of-three series on Sunday in game two of the LSC Tournament opening round.