by Jeff Clark

TYLER -- The UT Tyler Patriots baseball team dropped to 1-1 on the young season Saturday afternoon, falling 12-8 to Hendrix in the Clements Fluids Classic at Irwin Field. The No. 23-ranked Patriots return to action Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. against Texas Lutheran.

UT Tyler got the scoring early in the first inning as David Ring doubled home leadoff hitter Josh Bates, who had walked to start the inning, to give the Patriots an early 1-0 advantage. 

After both teams went down quietly in the second inning before Hendrix tied the game in the third, courtesy of Warriors DH Nathan Harr.

UT Tyler responded in the bottom half of the inning when Bates was hit by a pitch, stole second base, moved to third on ground ball put out, and scored on a Hendrix wild pitch to make the score 2-1, UT Tyler.

Hendrix took the lead, 3-2, in the fifth inning, thanks in part to a sacrifice fly and then an RBI single by Kyle Raskin. 

The Warriors added to their lead in the sixth when Collin Radack hit a two-run home run off of Patriots pitcher Derek Miller.

The Patriots biggest threat of the ballgame came in the bottom of the sixth inning as UT Tyler loaded the bases with no outs. Isaac Tijerina hit a sharp ground ball to the Hendrix shortstop, who booted the ball and allowed Aaron McCain to score from third base to bring the score to 6-3. Jake Beam singled a run home right after to push it to 6-4. 

With the bases still loaded, William Allen walked to bring the Patriots within 6-5.

Hendrix responded with two runs in the seventh inning, thanks to a Patriot error and an RBI-single. The Patriots responded again in the bottom half of the inning when Hayden Chick scored after doubling to make the score 10-6 heading to the eighth.

In the eighth, Hendrix went 1-2-3, and UT Tyler added another run thanks to another Hendrix error.

As the game moved into the ninth inning, Hendrix was leading 10-7 before adding two more runs.

Hayden Chick hit his first home run of the season in the Patriots half of the ninth, but the rally fell short as Hendrix won the game, 12-8.

Patriots' starting pitcher Chase Willard went five innings and allowed four runs, three of which were earned, two walks, and recorded three strikeouts. 

Miller took the loss as he gave up three runs off of three hits and one walk in one inning pitched.

Beam and Chick both went 3-for-5 at the plate for the Patriots. Beam recorded two RBI's, and Chick had one.

UT Tyler and Hendrix both had 12 hits overall. Hendrix was charged with three errors to the Patriots two.

The Patriots return to action on Sunday afternoon to face off against American Southwest Conference foe Texas Lutheran at 2 p.m. to wrap up the Clements Fluids Classic.