TYLER, TEXAS – The #2 seed UT Tyler baseball program dropped a 5-1 decision to #3 seed Angelo State on Friday night at Irwin Field as the Patriots and Rams continued play in the South Central Regional finals.
With the loss, the Patriots will now need to defeat Angelo State twice on Saturday to keep their season alive, while the Rams need just one more victory to clinch the regional title. First pitch for Saturday's opening game is scheduled for 3 p.m., with an if-necessary game to follow at 7 p.m.
Angelo State struck first in the second inning after capitalizing on a Patriot defensive error. Following a pair of walks and stolen bases, the Rams plated two unearned runs to take an early 2-0 lead despite recording just one hit in the inning.
UT Tyler starter Julio Garcia worked through traffic in the opening frames before Ethan Jezierski entered in relief during the fourth inning and helped stabilize the game. Jezierski retired the side in order in the fourth and kept the Patriots within striking distance through the middle innings.
The Rams added another run in the sixth inning when they delivered an RBI single to right field, extending the Angelo State advantage to 3-0.
UT Tyler answered in the bottom half of the sixth. Tanner Hornback opened the inning with a single before Cole Ketzner followed with a base hit to put runners on the corners. Drew Schmidt later worked a walk to load the bases, and Kaston Mason lifted a sacrifice fly to right field to bring home the Patriots' lone run and cut the deficit to 3-1.
The Patriots threatened again in the seventh after Spencer Simpson reached second base on an Angelo State error, but the Rams escaped the inning with three consecutive strikeouts to maintain the two-run lead.
Angelo State created separation in the eighth inning after hitting a two-run home run to left field following a leadoff walk, pushing the Rams ahead 5-1.
UT Tyler was unable to mount a late comeback as Angelo State pitching held the Patriots to just three hits on the night. Hornback, Ketzner and Simpson each recorded one hit apiece, while Mason drove in the lone Patriot run with his sixth-inning sacrifice fly.
On the mound, Jezierski provided an effective relief outing for UT Tyler, tossing five innings while striking out five. Klayton Wingfield closed the game with a dominant ninth inning, striking out all three batters he faced.
The Patriots and Rams will return to Irwin Field on Saturday afternoon with the South Central Regional title and a trip to the Super Regional round on the line.
