TYLER, TEXAS – The UT Tyler baseball program captured its first Lone Star Conference Tournament Championship in program history with a 6-4 victory over #2 Angelo State on Saturday afternoon at Irwin Field. The Patriots used a four-run third inning to take control and relied on strong pitching down the stretch to complete an undefeated run through the tournament.
UT Tyler wasted no time getting on the board in the top of the first inning. Connor Clark led off with a single before Brock Bearden drove him in with an RBI double down the left field line to give the Patriots an early 1-0 lead.
Angelo State responded in the second, stringing together three runs on a series of hits and productive outs to take a 3-1 advantage. The Rams added pressure with timely situational hitting, briefly seizing momentum.
The Patriots answered in a big way in the third inning, delivering the decisive blow of the game. UT Tyler strung together four consecutive hits, highlighted by RBI singles from Cole Ketzner and Drew Schmidt to tie the game. A wild pitch allowed another run to score before Kaston Mason capped the inning with an RBI groundout, giving the Patriots a 5-3 lead.
UT Tyler added another run in the fourth inning as Clark reached and came around to score on a sacrifice fly from Bearden, extending the lead to 6-3.
Dylan Blomquist earned the start and delivered a steady outing, working 5.2 innings while allowing four runs and keeping the Rams within reach but under control. Angelo State added its final run in the sixth, but the Patriots turned to their bullpen to preserve the lead.
Garrett Landry provided a strong bridge out of the bullpen, tossing 2.1 scoreless innings and limiting Angelo State to just one hit. Coleson Abel closed the door in the ninth, working around a baserunner to secure the save and clinch the championship.
Offensively, UT Tyler totaled 10 hits in the contest. Bearden led the way with two hits and two RBIs, while Clark set the tone at the top of the lineup with a pair of hits and two runs scored. Mason and Schmidt each contributed key RBIs as part of the Patriots' balanced attack.
With the win, UT Tyler completes an undefeated run through the Lone Star Conference Tournament to claim its first title in program history and advances to the NCAA postseason.
Congratulations to Bryce Jewell, Tanner Hornback, Julio Garcia, Connor Clark, Brock Bearden, and Dylan Blomquist on earning Lone Star Conference All-Tournament Team honors, while Kaston Mason was named Tournament MVP.
The Patriots will now turn their attention to the NCAA Selection Show on Sunday to learn their seeding and destination for the NCAA South Central Regional.
