TYLER -- The UT Tyler Patriots baseball team overcame a heart-breaking loss in game two to defeat Hardin-Simmons by a score of 3-1 in game three of the American Southwest Conference Championship First Round at Irwin Field.

The Patriots improve to 33-10 on the season, while the Cowboys end their season with a final record of 20-20. 

After the 14 inning, four hour marathon game two that the Cowboys won 6-5, the Patriots didn't waste any time putting runs on the board, as they scored one in the bottom of the first to make the score 1-0 early. 

Aaron McCain led the inning off with a hit by pitch, and advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Garrett Machacek. McCain then advanced to third base when Hayden Chick grounded out and scored one batter later when TJ Martin singled to center field for the RBI to give the Patriots the early advantage in the decisive game three.

The Patriots scored again in the bottom of the second inning when McCain hit an RBI-triple to plate Jake Ashley, who had singled.

UT Tyler scored their final run in the bottom of the fifth inning as McCain scored on an RBI-double off the left field wall by Chick. 

Brian Shore was the game three starter for the Patriots and went eight innings, only giving five up hits, while keeping the Cowboys offense scoreless and striking out four.

Jacob Yanker recorded the save, despite giving up the first Cowboys run of the game in top of the ninth.

TJ Martin was named the Most Outstanding Player of the ASC Championship First Round series. Martin made multiple dazzling defensive plays at third base throughout the weekend.

The Patriots advance to the ASC Championship Round next weekend in Austin. UT Tyler will face off against the ASC West champion and tournament host Concordia on Friday. 

Game 2

The UT Tyler baesball team dropped a heart-breaking 14 inning game to Hardin-Simmons, 6-5, in the 2012 American Southwest Conference Championship First Round on Saturday afternoon at Irwin Field.

The Patriots took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning when the Hardin-Simmons third baseman dropped a pop up. The error allowed Will Allen to score from second base. 

The Cowboys took the lead in the fifth inning when they scored three runs off of five hits. HSU put together a rally that consisted of back-to-back, two-out singles to put the Cowboys on top. After five innings, the Cowboys led the Patriots, 3-1.

Hardin-Simmons added to their lead in the bottom of the eighth inning when Andrew Rehling singled in Marcus Uechi to make the game a 4-1 Cowboy advantage.

The game went all the way until the top of the ninth inning when the Patriots rallied for three runs to tie the game up. Will Allen led off the inning with a strike out and then Garrett Machacek got the Patriot rally going when he reached on an error by the Cowboy first baseman. 

David Ring and Aaron McCain both singled before Machacek scored on a passed ball to bring the score to 4-2. Both Ring and McCain moved up one base to third and second on the passed ball. 

With runners on third and second base, Billy Lirely delivered the exciting two-out RBI-single to score both Ring and McCain to knot the score up at four.

Both the Cowboys and the Patriots scored a run in the 13th inning. 

The Cowboys finally scored to win the game in the bottom of the 14th to give the Cowboys the game two win. 

Ryan Reagor singled to right field with one out and advanced to second base on a passed ball. After Troy Tarrant was intentionally walked, Rehling flied out. Jason Vause then stepped up and delivered the game-winner for the Cowboys with a single to center field that scored Tarrant.

The Patriot starter was Michael Blevins who went five and one third inning, giving up three runs on nine hits with two strike outs. 

Parker Sheets went the next six and two-thirds innings, giving up five hits and one run. Chase Willard took the loss, even though he only pitched two-thirds of an inning. Willard gave up one run off of two hits in the bottom of the 14th.