AUSTIN, TEXAS -- The No. 20 UT Tyler baseball team dropped the opening game of the American Southwest Conference Championship tournament, 9-0, to No. 9 Concordia on Friday night in Austin.

The Patriots drop to 33-11 on the season, while the Tornadoes improve to 34-9. 

Concordia used solid pitching and a steady offense to cruise to the 9-0 victory. The Tornadoes scored nine runs, only managing eight hits, and had one error. The Patriots matched Concordia in the hit column with eight, but managed no runs, and committed two errors.

Jack Barkley registered his first loss of the season (10-1) for the Patriots, as he allowed eight runs, only three of which were earned, off of four hits in three and two-third innings pitched, while striking out three.

Konrad Koenig finished the ballgame for the Patirots, pitching four and one-third innings, giving up one run on four hits, while striking out one.

The Tornadoes scored early and often in the 9-0 win, as they got going in the first inning when Kyle Bieschke hit an RBI-single that scored Collin Janssen and Matt McManemin.

Concordia exploded for six runs in their portion of the fourth inning. Bieschke scored the first run of the inning on an error by the Patriots' Barkley. Kyle Guest delivered an RBI-single up the middle that scored two, and Colton Gommert delivered another dagger with an RBI-dougle that also score two. The sixth run of the inning was scored by Janssen, who crossed home on a passed ball.

The Tornadoes scored one more in the sixth to put their ninth run on the board.

The Patriots will now face elimination in the double-elimination ASC Tournament when they match up against McMurry at 1 p.m. on Saturday afternoon.