TYLER, TEXAS - #1 UT Tyler softball advanced in the NCAA South Central Regional Tournament with a 4-1 win over #8 seed MSU Denver on Thursday afternoon at Irwin Field.
 
The Patriots scored four ones, one each in the first, second, fifth, and sixth innings, and allowed just one to the Roadrunners as they took care of business in their opening round contest.
 
Kaylee Davis began the day in the circle and worked a 1-2-3 frame with a pair of strikeouts. In the home half, JT Smith drew a walk to begin the game, and moved to third as Ka'Lyn Watson reached on an error. That brought up Taryn Barney, who put the Patriots on the board as she slugged a sacrifice fly to left field to make it 1-0.
 
Davis would allow a leadoff single to begin the second, but a popout and two straight strikeouts would end the threat. The Patriots began the second with an error that allowed Abbie Behe to trot to second, and two batters later Angelique Rangel would drive an RBI single to right field and make it 2-0.
 
In the third, the Roadrunners got a leadoff single and a hit by pitch, before a key out from a runner left early call. Two batters later however, they were on the board with a double to right field, cutting the lead in half. That would bring in Primrose Aholelei, who gave up a walk before ending the inning with a strikeout.
 
Aholelei would then go on a run that would see her face the minimum in the fourth, fifth, and sixth, as the Patriots offense began to build up their lead. In the bottom of the fifth, they got a solo blast from Bailey Krolczyk to bring the lead back to two. In the bottom of the sixth, Barney was back to the sacrifice game, putting down a safety squeeze to plate another run to make it 4-1.
 
Aholelei would get the first two batters out in the seventh, before a walk ended her consecutive out streak at 12. She would then get a weak groundout to end the game, giving the Patriots a 4-1 win.
 
Aholelei earned the win, moving to 16-1 after going 4.1 innings in relief while allowing two walks and five strikeouts.
 
At the plate, Taryn Barney drove in two runs while Bailey Krolczyk and Angelique Rangel each added an RBI each.
 
#1 seed UT Tyler will now take on #5 seed Colorado Christian on Friday at 12 p.m. The winner of that game will advance to Saturday, while the loser will play in an elimination game on Friday at approximately 5 p.m.