UT Tyler's player Rachel Howell (33) catches the ball moments before Linfield's Megan Wallo (33) reaches the base, resulting in an out for Linfield during the 2013 NCAA Softball Championships at UT Tyler Ballpark. (Shannon Wilson | Tyler Morning Telegraph)

UT Tyler is one win away from a berth in the College World Series.

The Patriots, paced by the pitching of Kelsie Batten and a home run blast from Joey Cronin, scored a key 4-1 win over rival East Texas Baptist in the unbeaten game Saturday of the NCAA Division III West Regional at UT Tyler Ballpark.

UT Tyler (44-4) advances to the championship game at 1:30 p.m. today. The Patriots are 3-0 in the tourney, all 4-1 wins.

ETBU (36-11) falls into an elimination game against Redlands (36-11) at 11 a.m. today.

The winner of the ETBU-Redlands game will face the Patriots in the title game. If UT Tyler loses that game, another game must be played and it would take place at 11 a.m. Monday.

The winner of the double-elimination tournament advances to the NCAA Division III World Series May 17-21 in Eau Claire, Wis.

Both the Patriots and the Tigers won earlier in the day to move into the unbeaten game of the double-elimination tournament.

UT Tyler won over Linfield (Ore.), 4-1, while ETBU won over Redlands, 1-0.

Redlands advanced to today’s game with the Tigers by eliminating California rival Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, 2-0.

After dropping their last two games to ETBU that cost them the ASC title, the Patriots wanted to get back on track.

“I just told them to be focused on the next game up and not think ahead,” UT Tyler coach Mike Reed said. “We challenged them all weekend to fight for every pitch and (Saturday) was the best example of that. You know it will always been a well-played game when we play ETBU. We scratched one out and Kelsie threw another great game.”

The freshman Batten (23-1) pitched well in both games on Saturday — three-hitters against both ETBU and Linfield.

With her in control in the circle, the Patriots broke through in the fourth inning against Kelly Jo McLendon (8-2).

Lauren Robenalt reached on a single and was sacrifice to second by Brittney Batten.

Then came the key play, Rachel Howell had an infield single near second base. Alhough the ball did not reach the outfield, the speedy Robenalt never stopped running and scored without a throw.

After an out and a walk to Heather Abshire, Raven Rodriguez singled to left to score Howell for a 2-0 lead.

Vanessa Carrizales singled to bring in pinch runner Karley Geiger.

The next inning, Cronin blasted a homer to left and the Patriots led 4-0.

The Tigers scored a run in the seventh, but Batten limited the damage.

Earlier in the day, Robenalt had three hits and Rodriguez had two as the Patriots put away Linfield.

Karleigh Prestianni hit a homer for the Wildcats.

ETBU ace Shelby Parker tossed a four-hitter in a 1-0 win over Redlands. Lacy Liles had two hits and an RBI for the Tigers.

PATRIOT POINTS: Ticket prices are $7 for adults, $3 for children 13 and under, and children under 2 are admitted free. … The UT Tyler baseball team, the American Southwest Conference champions, finds out Monday where they will play.

———

Game 5

UT Tyler 4, Linfield (Ore.) 1

UT Tyler 100 002 1 — 4 10 0

Linfield 000 000 1 — 1 3 1

Kelsie Batten and Brittney Batten. Karina Paavola and McKenna Spieth.

W – K. Batten (22-1), L – Paavola (22-4).

LOB – UT Tyler 11, Linfield 2.

2B – UT Tyler: Raven Rodriguez. HR – L: Karleigh Prestianni.

SH – UT Tyler: K. Batten. SF – UT Tyler: Vanessa Carrizales. SB – UT Tyler: Joey Cronin, Lauren Robenalt.

TIME – 1:46. ATT — 431.

RECORDS — UT Tyler 43-4, Linfield 36-8.

———

Game 6

East Texas Baptist 1, Redlands (Calif.) 0

Redlands 000 000 0 — 0 4 1

ETBU 100 000 x — 1 7 0

Kayla Uphold and Kristen Hooper. Shelby Parker and Lya Swaner.

W – Parker (15-3), L – Uphold (24-9).

LOB – Redlands 5, ETBU 8.

2B – ETBU: Kelsey DeCarolis, Lacy Liles.

SH – R: Amanda Clark: ETBU: Swaner, Logan Gardner. SB – ETBU: Liles.

TIME – 1:35. ATT — 407.

RECORDS — Redlands (35-11), East Texas Baptist 36-10.

———

Game 7

Redlands (Calif.) 2, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (Calif.) 0

CMS 000 000 0 — 0 4 0

Redlands 200 000 x — 2 5 0

Hayley Schultz and Morgan Beltz. Kayla Uphold and Kristen Hooper.

W – Uphold (25-9), L – Schultz (26-5).

LOB – CMS 4, Redlands 3.

2B – R: Nikoli Sharp.

SB – R: Grace Rose (2).

TIME – 1:23. ATT — 210.

RECORDS — CMS 33-13, Redlands 36-11.

———

Game 8

UT Tyler 4, East Texas Baptist 1

ETBU 000 000 1 — 1 3 1

UT Tyler 000 310 x — 4 6 1

Kelly Jo McLendon and Lya Swaner. Kelsie Batten and Brittney Batten.

W – K. Batten (23-1), L – McLendon (8-2).

LOB – ETBU 4, UT Tyler 5.

2B – ETBU: Tawny Hank. UT Tyler: Heather Abshire. HR – UT Tyler: Joey Cronin (fifth, solo).

HBP – UT Tyler: Rachel Howell. SH – UT Tyler: B. Batten, Ashley Endsley.

TIME – 1:25. ATT — 650.

RECORDS — East Texas Baptist 36-11, UT Tyler 44-4.

———

NCAA Division III Softball Tournament

West Regional

At UT Tyler Ballpark

Friday

Game 1: UT Tyler 4, Southwestern 1

Game 2: East Texas Baptist 3, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (Calif.) 0

Game 3: Redlands (Calif.) 3, Linfield (Ore.) 0

Game 4: Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 7, Southwestern 5, Southwestern eliminated

Saturday

Game 5: UT Tyler 4, Linfield 1, Linfield eliminated

Game 6: East Texas Baptist 1, Redlands 0

Game 7: Redlands 2, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 0, CMS eliminated

Game 8: UT Tyler 4, East Texas Baptist 1

Sunday

Game 9: Redlands (36-11) vs. East Texas Baptist (36-11), 11 a.m.

Game 10: UT Tyler (44-4) vs. winner of Game 9, 1:30 p.m.