University of Texas at Tyler Athletics

CARY, N.C. – No. 5 UT Tyler continued its postseason resilience Tuesday afternoon, defeating No. 4 Central Missouri 11-7 in an elimination game at the NCAA Division II College World Series to secure the program's record-setting 50th victory of the season.

The win sends the Patriots into another matchup with top-seeded West Chester on Wednesday evening and improves UT Tyler to 4-0 in elimination games during the 2026 postseason.

One night after stranding 15 runners and going 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position against West Chester, the Patriots once again left 15 runners on base but delivered when opportunities arose, collecting eight hits with runners in scoring position and piling up 17 hits overall.

UT Tyler also continued a trend that has defined its postseason run, scoring first for the fourth consecutive elimination game.

Connor Clark wasted little time setting the tone, ripping a leadoff double down the left field line in the opening inning before advancing to third on Brock Bearden's sacrifice bunt. Two batters later, Cole Ketzner lined an RBI single through the left side to give the Patriots a 1-0 lead.

Central Missouri answered with a run in the second, but the Patriots quickly reclaimed the advantage in the third.

After Drew Schmidt reached on a fielder's choice and appeared to be thrown out attempting to steal second, UT Tyler successfully challenged the call and had the play overturned. Moments later, Kaston Mason made the Mules pay, lining an RBI double down the right field line to put the Patriots back in front 2-1.

The game turned decisively in the fifth inning. With one out, Tanner Hornback drew a walk and Schmidt followed with a single before Mason delivered another RBI hit to make it 3-1. What appeared to be a wild pitch that scored another Patriot run was overturned after a Central Missouri challenge ruled Spencer Simpson had been hit by the pitch instead, loading the bases.

The Patriots responded anyway. Bryce Jewell promptly lined a two-run double into left field, scoring Mason and Schmidt to extend the lead to 5-1 and cap a three-run inning.

After Central Missouri tied the game against the Patriots' starter in the second inning, Coleson Abel entered and delivered one of the biggest relief outings of the season. The right-hander tossed 4.1 innings, allowing just two hits and one run while striking out four to earn his eighth victory of the year.

Abel, Noah Lindt, and Ethan Jezierski combined to hold the Mules to just one run from the third inning to the end, allowing the offense to create separation.

That separation arrived in the eighth. Schmidt was hit by a pitch and Mason singled before Bragg was plunked to load the bases. Spencer Simpson followed with a two-run single through the left side, and Jewell added another run with a bunt single that turned into a two-run scoring play following a throwing error. Clark and Bearden then added RBI singles as the Patriots erupted for six runs in the inning to stretch the lead to 11-2.

Central Missouri mounted a rally in the ninth and scored five runs, but Jezierski recorded the final two outs to secure the victory.

Mason paced the offense with three hits, two RBIs and two runs scored, while Simpson reached base five times and finished 3-for-4 with two RBIs. Jewell drove in three runs, and Schmidt scored three times.

The Patriots improved to 50-13 with the victory, surpassing last season's program record for wins in a single season. UT Tyler will now face No. 1 West Chester on Wednesday evening needing two victories over the Golden Rams in the next two days to advance to the national championship series.