Tyler Junior College's Jacob Hickman (17) slides safely into second as UT Tylers second baseman Kolton Matthews (37) waits on the ball to try to make the play. ( Lang White / Correspondent )

Jarah Wright, Sports Correspondent

Tyler Junior College came away with a dramatic 12-11 win over the UT Tyler JV squad on Wednesday night at Irwin Field to keep its perfect season intact with a record of 9-0.

The Patriots were the first on the board in the third. Daniel Stagg belted a deep double to left field to bring in a pair of runs to put UT Tyler up 2-0.

The Apaches cut the lead in the home half when Zane Otten, singled, stole second, reached third on a grounder and stole home to make it 2-1.

UT Tyler added to its lead in the fourth. With two outs, Ben Romines took a pitch right in the helmet and quickly after stole second. Kolton Matthews drew a walk before a long double by Hunter Bechuck brought the pair in to put the Patriots up 4-1. Bechuck was brought in by Stagg singling up the middle.

The Apaches looked to chip away at the lead in the home half, plating a pair of their own. Reid Russell singled up the middle and was brought in on a Derek Clemons double that dropped just shy of the left-center field fence. Clemons stole third and scored on an infield single by Manny Galvan with the Apaches trailing 5-3 through four innings.

TJC fought back to tie the game and take its first lead of the night in the sixth after batting through the order. With one out, Clemons hopped aboard via an infield error. Alex Masotto singled and Galvan drew a walk to load the bases.

Otten then singled to bring in two and tie the game at 5-5.

Tim Hunter then laid down a bunt down the third-base line to load the bases a second time. A sacrifice fly by Jacob Hickman brought in Galvan to give the Apaches a 6-5 lead.

TJC went on to score four more runs in the bottom of the seventh to bump the score up to 10-5.

However, the Patriots weren’t done fighting as they tried to take back the lead back in the top of the ninth.

With one out, Matthews singled up the middle before back-to-back walks prompted a TJC pitching change.

Avery Bishop then singled deep to right to bring in Matthews. A fly out put two outs on the board and brought in another run with UT Tyler trailing 10-7.

A walk cued a second TJC pitching change of the inning before a passed ball brought in Bishop. Romines singled up the middle to drive in another run and make it 10-9. A single and an error on the next play allowed UT Tyler to take an 11-10 lead.

TJC tied the game in the bottom of the ninth with Hunter drawing a walk and moving to second on a sacrifice bunt. Aaron Clemons then singled but the ball ricocheted off Bechuck’s leg, which allowed Clemons to move to second and scored Hunter to tie the game at 11-11.

A sacrifice bunt moved Clemons to third before Aaron’s brother Derek got the game winning hit. singling to left field to give the Apaches the 12-11 win.

The Apaches will host Brookhaven College at Mike Carter Field at 2 p.m. on Monday.