UT Tyler right fielder Jake Ashley throws to the pitcher Saturday afternoon against Hendrix at Irwin Field. (Sarah A. Miller | Tyler Morning Telegraph)

With every dawn comes a new day, and the UT Tyler Patriots found that out Saturday afternoon, failing to build on their season-opening win.

Hendrix College scored nine times in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings to defeat UT Tyler, 12-8, on the second day of the Clements Fluids Classic at Irwin Field.

An early sticking point for the Patriots (1-1) this season is a pitching staff that has allowed 22 runs and seven home runs through the first two games.

“We’ve obviously got to improve on the mound,” UT Tyler coach Paul Wyczawski said. “We’ve got some guys that have shown the ability to be strike-throwers and we haven’t really executed very well the first two times out.”

Collin Radack went 3 for 5 with a home run and two RBIs, while Nathan Harr homered and drove in four to lead Hendrix (2-3) at the plate.

“I thought (Hendrix) did a good job of battling with two strikes,” Wyczawski said. “That’s one of those things that win a lot of baseball games, and they seemed to get them today.”

Hendrix starter Geoff Lomax earned the win despite giving up five runs and six hits in five innings. Thomas Weber allowed three runs (one earned) in four innings to pick up the save.

Senior left-hander Chase Willard (0-1) took the loss, allowing three runs and four hits in five innings. The Patriots bullpen surrendered nine runs in four innings.

UT Tyler was led at the plate by Hayden Chick, who was 3 for 5 with a homer, and Jake Beam, who had three hits and two RBIs.

Radack’s two-run home run off Patriots reliever Derek Miller highlighted a three-run sixth inning for Hendrix, which opened up a 6-2 lead.

UT Tyler responded with three runs in the bottom of the inning, but it could’ve been more.

Trailing 6-5, the Patriots loaded the bases with nobody out, but Weber struck out the next three batters — Steven Paramore, Josh Bates and David Ring — to put an end to the threat.

“I thought there was some momentum that was meant to be had by us, and in this game with lost opportunities, sometimes you don’t get a second chance,” Wyczawski said. “We had some decent hitters at the plate. They’ll hopefully learn from the experience today and be better the next time up.”

Hendrix extended its lead to 10-5 in the seventh by scoring four runs, thanks in part to RBI singles by Radack and Harr.

The Warriors added two more runs in the ninth, whereas the Patriots could only muster single runs in the seventh, eighth and ninth.

“I told our guys that we’re still a work in progress, and we’ll have better days than we did today,” Wyczawski said. “We just didn’t make the plays we needed to to win.”

The Patriots wrap up the weekend against Texas Lutheran. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m., following the first game between Freed-Hardeman and Hendrix at 11 a.m.

———

Hendrix 12, No. 23 UT Tyler 8

At Irwin Field

Hendrix   001  023  402  —  12   12   3

UT Tyler   101  003  111  —  8   12   2

Geoff Lomax, Thomas Weber (6) and Andrew Thames, Seth Mobley (9); Chase Willard, Derek Miller (6), Derek Casola (7), Jacob Yanker (8) and Hayden Chick. W — Lomax. L — Willard. S — Weber. 2B — H: Aaron Bowen. UTT: David Ring, Chick, Jake Beam. 3B — H: Bowen. HR — H: Collin Radack (sixth inning, one on), Nathan Harr (third, solo). UTT: Chick (ninth, solo). SH — H: Jacob Perschke, Matt Simmons. UTT: Jake Ashley. SF — H: Harr. SB — H: Austin Womack. UTT: Josh Bates, Billy Lirely.

RECORDS — Hendrix 2-3; UT Tyler 1-1.

NEXT UP — Hendrix vs. Freed-Hardeman, 11 a.m. today; Texas Lutheran at UT Tyler, 2 p.m. today.