Patriots sweep baseball doubleheader vs. Cameron

Published 10:23 pm Saturday, March 22, 2025

The UT Tyler Patriots swept their Saturday Lone Star Conference baseball doubleheader against the Cameron Aggies, securing a comfortable 6-2 victory in game one and a thrilling 5-4 walk-off win in game two at Irwin Field.

The Patriots’ offense delivered a total of 11 runs on 22 hits, while strong pitching performances helped seal the series victory. UT Tyler won 22-3 on Friday.

With the doubleheader sweep, the Patriots improve to 24-8 and extend their winning streak to four games. UT Tyler is 24-7 in LSC play while the Aggies are 6-21 (both overall and in conference).

The two teams are set for Game 4 of the series at 1 p.m. Sunday.

GAME ONE

The Patriots took the first game 6-2, backed by an 11-hit offensive display and a pitching staff that struck out 10 Aggies in the seven-inning contest.

Miles Clack made his first start of the season after eight relief appearances. He began the game by retiring the side, striking out the last two Aggie batters. The Patriots provided early run support in the first inning when Mason Hammonds led off with a single and advanced to scoring position on an error. Kaston Mason brought him home with an RBI groundout, giving UT Tyler a 1-0 lead. Clack continued to pitch three scoreless innings before handing over the game to the bullpen.

In the third inning, UT Tyler extended their lead. Justin Williams and Drew Schmidt hit back-to-back singles before Mason doubled to bring in another run, making it 2-0. The Patriots tacked on another run in the fourth when Tanner Hornback reached on a bunt single, stole second and third, and scored on a Hammonds RBI groundout.

Cameron responded in the fifth inning, cutting the deficit to 3-2 with a two-run double following a single and a hit-by-pitch. However, Bryce Jewell quickly restored the Patriots’ lead with a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth. UT Tyler added two insurance runs in the sixth on a Schmidt RBI double and another Mason RBI groundout, securing the final 6-2 margin.

Garrett Arredondo came out of the bullpen in the sixth and dominated, not allowing a Cameron batter to reach scoring position. He earned his sixth save of the season, improving his ERA to 2.00. Clack moved to 4-0 on the season, lowering his ERA to 2.65. The duo combined for five innings, allowing just five hits while striking out eight. Mason led the offense with three RBIs, while Schmidt and Blake LaBuda each had two hits.

GAME TWO

The nightcap provided late-game drama, as the Patriots rallied for a 5-4 walk-off victory to complete the doubleheader sweep.

Cameron struck first in the third inning, stringing together three consecutive hits to take a 2-0 lead. UT Tyler responded in the bottom half when Williams singled, stole second, and scored on a Jewell RBI single, cutting the deficit to 2-1.

The Aggies extended their lead to 3-1 in the fourth following a defensive error and an RBI single. However, the Patriots fought back, with Schmidt blasting his second home run of the season in the fifth to make it a 3-2 game.

In the sixth, the Patriots tied the game at 3-3 after a Brock Bearden leadoff single, a sacrifice bunt, and a Ryan Walker RBI single. Cameron briefly regained the lead in the seventh following another defensive miscue and an RBI single, putting them ahead 4-3.

UT Tyler refused to go quietly, recording four straight singles in the bottom of the seventh to even the score and force extra innings.

In the eighth, Nash Villegas took the mound and escaped trouble after issuing a leadoff walk, inducing a double play, and ending the inning with a strikeout. This set the stage for the Patriots’ walk-off moment. After a leadoff walk, a sacrifice bunt, and an intentional walk, Schmidt stepped up and delivered a clutch RBI single to left field, sealing the 5-4 victory.

Schmidt finished game two with a 3-for-4 performance, including two RBIs and the walk-off hit. Williams and Hammonds also recorded multiple hits, helping Villegas secure his first win of the season.