UT Tyler senior pitcher Jamie Paxton picked up his sixth win of the season while striking out eight batters in a 4-2 win over American Southwest Conference rival Hardin-Simmons on Friday at Irwin Field.

The Patriots (15-8, 11-5) ended their three-game losing streak with a solid performance by Paxton and relievers Tyler Stallings and Chad Hayes who helped close the book on the HSU squad.

Blake Bonnin opened the scoring for the Patriots with a two-run single to center, scoring Buddy McCoy and Reid Coover. Garrett Nelson extended the lead to 3-0 with a single, scoring Bonnin.

The Patriots added one more insurance run in the sixth as Sam Lane reached base with a single, allowing Nelson to score after an error by Cowboys’ pitcher Jason England.

Hardin-Simmons would not go away easy, as they scored a run in the top of the ninth off of Paxton, giving way to Stallings who recorded two outs.

 

— Phil Hicks

After a pair of runners reached base, Hayes took over to get the final out of the game for his seventh save of the season.

For the night, Coover, McCoy and Bonnin each finished with a team-high two hits, while Bonnin also finished with a team-high two RBIs.

The Patriots and Cowboys (6-12, 2-7) will finish out the series with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Irwin Field.