Five first-inning runs by the University of Texas at Tyler helped power the 18th-ranked Patriots past the Denison baseball team, 10-3, on Wednesday night in Tyler, Texas.

Texas-Tyler jumped out to an early lead after scoring five times in their first plate appearance of the game. The Big Red cut into the deficit in the top of the third inning. Senior Duncan Moran led off the frame with a base hit to center field. After working a 3-1 count, sophomore Sam Frazen crushed a two-run home run to left field that made it a 5-2 contest.

The Patriots built a 9-2 lead after scoring four times in the sixth. Alex Bishop and Trenton Buchhorn both provided two-out, two-run singles in the inning. Denison sophomore Tanner Johnson drove in senior Jake Meegan with a base hit to left in the eighth, but a solo shot by Bishop in the bottom of the frame made it a 10-3 affair.

Denison attempted to mount a late rally when sophomore Jack Blanchard line a base hit up the middle that scored pinch runner Joe LaPlaca and Matt Bonollo. However, Patriot reliever Jacob Clark recorded back-to-back outs to secure the win.

Meegan led the DU offense with three hits and a run, while Frazen had two hits and drove in a pair on his third-career home run. Sophomore Cody Mauri suffered the loss allowing five runs (one earned) on five hits with five strikeouts and three walks in 4.2 innings.

Denison falls to 6-2 with the loss, while the win moves Texas-Tyler to 13-6. The Big Red returns to action on Friday when they take on LeTourneau University. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. CDT.