CANYON, Texas – The UT Tyler Patriots used a nine-run fourth inning highlighted by a pair of homeruns in the frame to take the Lone Star Conference series opener from the #2 Buffaloes on Friday night at Wilder Park in Canyon, Texas.
 
The Patriots struck first in the top of the opening frame as Jordan Gochenour grounded out to Mike Manetta at short with the bases loaded and one out to score Tanner Roach for the early 1-0 lead.
 
The Buffs took their first lead in the home half of the third as Eddy Savoie doubled to the left center field gap to score Izaiah Madrid and Paul Wittmann followed later in the inning by an Adam Becker RBI single thru the left side to plate Savoie and make it 3-1.
 
UTT responded in the top of the fourth as Lukas Polanco started the frame with a solo homerun to left center followed later in the frame by a Kyle McShaffery grand slam down the left field line, Tommy van de Sanden would add to the UTT lead with an RBI double to the gap in right center followed by a WT error with two outs that kept the inning alive and gave UTT the 10-3 lead.
 
WT wouldn't go down without a fight as they cut into the lead in the home half of the sixth with a Kennedy Badgett RBI single with the bases loaded followed by a two-run single to left center by Becker to cut the lead to 10-6. 
 
Tyler would add to their lead in the top of the ninth inning as Ethan Bedgood lifted a solo shot to left center with two outs to make it 11-6. The Buffs would cut into the lead again in the home half of the frame as Eric Ortiz crushed a solo homerun to right center with two outs.
 
Colton Charnholm picked up the loss (3-1) on the mound for the Buffs, allowing five earned runs on four hits with one walk and one strikeout in his 0.1 innings of relief.
 
The Buffs and Patriots continue the LSC series tomorrow afternoon with a pair of seven-inning contests beginning at 4 p.m. at Wilder Park.