Tyler Junior College sophomore Jonathan Groff pitches against Vernon College in the second game of a double-header to close out a three game series Friday at Mike Carter Field in Tyler. (Andrew D. Brosig/Tyler Morning Telegraph via AP)

Jonathan Groff and Adan Ross combined on a two-hitter as No. 1 Tyler Junior College defeated Vernon College, 12-0, in a seven-inning contest Friday at Mike Carter Field.

The two teams have a doubleheader scheduled on Saturday with the first game beginning at noon. TJC improved to 8-2 on the season, while the Chaparrals fell to 7-4.

Groff, a sophomore from Castroville, pitched six innings, allowing two hits while striking out five and walking four. Ross hurled the seventh, allowing just a walk.

Nathan Melvin led the Apaches with three hits, including a double and an RBI. Jace Campbell had two doubles and an RBI, while Mason Mallard and Jared Pauley each had two hits and an RBI.

Matt Mikusek contributed a hit and two RBIs with Hunter Wells and Jordan Trahan adding a hit and an RBI apiece.

Earning the only hits for the Chaparrals were Luis Rivas and Blake Clark.

 

APACHE LADIES TAKE TWO

WEATHERFORD – The Tyler Junior College Apache Ladies swept two games on Friday in the Weatherford Lady Coyote Softball Tournament.

TJC (19-1) defeated host Weatherford (8-2) in the first game and followed with a 5-0 victory over Hill College.

The Apache Ladies play two games on Saturday, 4 p.m. vs. Howard College and 6 p.m. vs. Hill.

 

PATRIOTS FALL TO GENERALS

LSU-Alexandria’s PJ Leto hit a two-run triple in the 10th inning to lift the Generals to a 5-2 win over No. 20 UT Tyler in the series opener on Friday at Irwin Field.

The Patriots and Generals will resume the series at 1 p.m. on Saturday with a doubleheader at Irwin Field.

The Patriots (4-3) scored the first two runs of the game and led 2-0 through five innings, but saw the Generals take advantage of four errors and force the first extra-inning game of the season. The Generals scored three runs in the 10th after being hit by pitch to lead off the inning and then a single to set Leto up for his opposite field triple that made its way to the right-center field fence. The hit came off UT Tyler pitcher Jacob Clark who had come into the game in relief of Max Page (0-1) who took the loss.

UT Tyler senior Sam Lane drove in both runs for the Patriots with a pair of doubles that scored Graham Welch and Kelly Dorsett. Lane, who hit from the cleanup spot in the lineup on Friday, drove in the first run of the game in the first inning with a double to left center field to score Dorsett who reached on a one-out single to left. Just two innings later, Lane hit his second double of the game and season to left field to score Welch who led off the inning with a double down the right field line.

Welch’s double was his team-leading third of the season and his only hit of the game in five appearances. A freshman, Welch has hit safely in six straight games while fellow left-handed hitter Trenton Buchhorn has started the season on a seven-game hitting streak after going 1 for 5. Buchhorn extended his hitting streak in his final plate appearance with a single in the eighth but was stranded at first. UT Tyler starter Michael Blevins did not receive a decision in the game after striking out six and not allowing an earned run through six innings. He left the game with a 2-1 lead, allowing only two hits.

 

PATRIOT SOFTBALL SPLITS PAIR

JACKSON, Miss. – The No. 1-ranked UT Tyler softball team split a doubleheader against Belhaven University on Friday.

The Blazers won the first game 2-0, but the Patriots bounced back for a 15-1 win in Game 2.

The Patriots (5-1) managed only two hits in the first game as Kelsie Batten (3-1) suffered her first loss.

With sophomore Alaina Kissinger on the mound and the defense set, the Patriots only allowed two hits and gave up one run in the second game. Kissinger saw 17 batters through five innings and was able to strike out seven.

On the offensive side of the ball, Vanessa Carrizales hit a home run over the center field wall to drive in Bianca Van Vlerah. From there the team wouldn’t let up, scoring five more runs in the top of the third, two in the fourth and finished with six runs added in the top of the fifth. KK Stevens also hit a home run, driving in Jackie Mendez and Carrizales.

Carrizales was 2 for 3 with 4 RBIs with Stevens picking up 3 RBIs in a 2 for 4 performance.

The teams face off at noon on Saturday.