TYLER, TEXAS – #3 UT Tyler baseball kicked off the 2026 season the same way it started last year, opening with a win over Lone Star Conference foe Lubbock Christian. The Patriots used two four-run innings to pull away from the Chaps, finishing with eight hits while allowing just two earned runs on opening night.
The Patriots got off to a rocky start in the first inning as LSC Preseason Pitcher of the Year Caden Copeland took the mound for his first career start as a Patriot. He retired the leadoff batter on a strikeout, but the next Chap dribbled a ball down the third-base line and an errant throw allowed the runner to reach second. Copeland responded with another strikeout for the second out, but Lubbock Christian capitalized on the error with a two-run home run over the left-field wall. Copeland settled in from there, striking out another batter to end the inning with his third punchout.
From there, the game moved quickly with both lineups being retired in order until the Patriots' half of the third inning. Bryce Jewell put UT Tyler on the board with the first run of the season, sending the first pitch of the inning 380 feet over the left-field fence at 97 mph exit velocity to cut the deficit to one. A single and a walk set the table for Drew Schmidt, who laced a single into center field to tie the game at 2–2. A fielder's choice brought home another run, and Kaston Mason followed with a two-RBI double into left field to give the Patriots a 4–2 lead after three innings.
In the top of the fifth, the Chaps briefly tied the game at four after a sequence of a walk, hit by pitch, single, hit by pitch, and a wild pitch plated two runs. Jacob Hadden entered with one out and, after hitting a batter, induced an inning-ending double play to stop the threat.
Both teams went down in order in the bottom of the fifth and top of the sixth, but the Patriots regained the lead in their half of the sixth. A single and two walks loaded the bases, and UT Tyler pushed across two runs on a fielder's choice and an error. After a hit by pitch reloaded the bases, Connor Clark delivered a two-RBI double on a full-count hit-and-run to extend the lead to 8–4.
Hadden returned to the mound in the seventh and worked a clean inning. The Patriots rewarded him with another run in the bottom of the frame after an error allowed Schmidt to reach base. He eventually came around to score following a wild pitch and another error. Hadden's night ended after striking out the side in the eighth, before turning the ball over to new Patriot Matthew Mackenzie, who needed just 11 pitches to retire the side in order and secure UT Tyler's first win of the season.
Copeland finished his outing with 3.1 innings on 65 pitches, striking out seven Chaps while allowing no earned runs. Hadden earned the win with a dominant 3.2 innings of relief, allowing just two baserunners on no hits while striking out five on 47 pitches.
Offensively, the Patriots had six players record a hit and six score a run. Clark's two-RBI double highlighted his 2-for-5 night, while Schmidt added the only other multi-hit performance, going 2-for-5 with two runs scored. Jewell also crossed the plate twice and accounted for the first Patriot home run of the season.
The Patriots will be back in action tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. as they look to clinch the series against Lubbock Christian. The 2025 UT Tyler baseball team will be honored approximately 30 minutes prior to first pitch.
