CLINTON, MISS. -- The UT Tyler softball team split the American Southwest Conference doubleheader at Mississippi College on Tuesday in Clinton. The Patriots won 4-0 and lost game two, 5-3, and move to 10-2 on the season and 3-1 in ASC action.

The Choctaws are now 7-3 overall and 1-1 in league play.

Game 1: UT Tyler 4, Mississippi College 0

In game one of the doubleheader, the Patriots used strong pitching and timely hitting to take the victory from the Choctaws, 4-0. 

Heather Abshire registered the victory in the circle for UT Tyler and improved her perfect rercord to 5-0. Abshire tossed a complete game, one hit- shutout while only walking one and striking out two.

The Patriots jumped on the Choctaws from the beginning, scoring their first run in the top of the first inning.

Leadoff hitter, Joey Cronin, singled to left field and moved to second when Katelyn Thomason attempted the bunt, but Choctaw first baseman bobbled the bunt, and Thomason reached first base on the error. After a Taylor Petrick groundout, Ashley Endsley drove home Cronin with an RBI-single to right field. 

UT Tyler did not score again until the top of the sixth inning. After two quick outs, Rachel Howell doubled to left. Kellen Gomez then came in and replaced Howell on the base paths and scored when Abshire hit an RBI-double.

The Patriots added two more insurance runs in the top of the seventh as Cronin reached base on a fielder's choice and scored on a Thomason single. Thomason herself scored a few plays later on an error when Petrick singled to right field to put the Patriots on top 4-0.

Cronin went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and a walk. Thomason was 1-for-2 with a run and an RBI.

In addition to her performace on the mound, Abshire produced at the plate, going 1-for-3 with an RBI-double.

Game 2: UT Tyler 3, Mississippi College 5

The Patriots dropped their first game in ASC play by a score of 5-3 in the second game of the doubleheader.

UT Tyler looked as though they might run away with it, as they scored three in the first frame. 

Cronin led off reaching on an error, moved to third on a bunt singled by Thomason, and scored when Petrick singledt up the middle. Thomason then scored when the Choctaw pitcher loaded the bases and walked in a run. 

The Patriots scored the third run of the inning when Lauren Robenalt singled home Petrick with a hit to left field.

Mississippi College stormed back and scored two in the second, two in the third, and one in the sixth to claim the victory.

Victoria Combs took the loss for the Patriots, throwing two innings, allowing four runs on four hits, and one walk. She moves to 2-1 on the season. Thomason pitched four innings and allowed one run on four hits.

The Patriots will continue on the road as they play a non-conference doubleheader against Trinity (TX) on Tuesday in San Antonio. Games are scheduled to start at 1 and 3 p.m.