University of Texas at Tyler Athletics

GRAND JUNCTION, COLO. – No. 2 UT Tyler dropped game two of the South Central Super Regional to No. 1 Colorado Mesa by a score of 20-4 on Friday night at The Diamond, setting up a decisive winner-take-all matchup on Saturday evening with a trip to Cary, North Carolina on the line.

Colorado Mesa struck early with a nine-run second inning after stringing together five hits, four walks, and a grand slam to take control of the game. The Mavericks added four more runs in the fourth inning to stretch the lead to 13-0.

UT Tyler scattered opportunities throughout the night but was unable to break through offensively early despite singles from Connor Clark and Drew Schmidt in the opening innings. Brock Bearden added a double in the sixth inning while Tanner Hornback followed with an RBI fielder's choice that plated Clark for the Patriots' first run of the game.

The Patriots bullpen settled things down in the middle innings as Will Johnson and Brody Logsdon combined to hold Colorado Mesa scoreless across the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings to keep UT Tyler within striking distance.

Luke Smith singled in the seventh inning while Hornback added another extra-base hit with a double down the left field line in the eighth, but the Patriots stranded four runners over the final three innings.

Colorado Mesa broke the game open in the ninth with seven runs before UT Tyler answered in the bottom half of the inning. Drew Bourgeois opened the frame with a walk before Spencer Simpson singled to center field. Travis Bragg then provided the late highlight for the Patriots with a three-run home run to right field, scoring Bourgeois and Bryce Jewell.

Schmidt led UT Tyler offensively with two hits, while Bragg drove in three runs with his pinch-hit home run. Hornback finished with a double and an RBI, and Clark reached base twice with a single and a hit by pitch.

UT Tyler and Colorado Mesa will return to The Diamond on Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. for the deciding game of the South Central Super Regional with the winner advancing to the NCAA Division II College World Series in Cary, North Carolina.