The University of Texas at Tyler Patriots erupted in celebration after an 8‑5 win over Colorado Mesa in the South Central Super Regional final, clinching the championship and a berth in the NCAA Division II College World Series.
A stingy pitching staff kept the Mavericks to just five runs, with reliever Tyler Puckett tossing four shutout innings, Coleson Abel striking out four batters in 2.2 frames, and Noah Lindt closing out the game to earn the save.
Offensively, Drew Schmidt paced the Patriots with a four‑hit outing, while Kaston Mason’s second‑inning home run drove in two runs. Tanner Hornback added three hits and two RBI, and Connor Clark reached base twice, scoring two runs.
Supporting contributions came from Brock Bearden, Cole Ketzner, Spencer Simpson and Travis Bragg, each chipping in key hits that helped sustain the offense.
Road to Cary
With the title secured, the Patriots will head to Cary, North Carolina, for the national championship game, marking their second consecutive appearance on the Division II stage.
Coach Travis Bragg praised the team’s resilience, noting that the blend of veteran arms and emerging hitters bodes well for the upcoming tournament.