Tyler, Texas - Oklahoma Christian (0-1) opened the season with a game under the lights at No. 19 UT Tyler (1-0).
 
The Eagles and its host of newcomers started hot, taking a 2-0 lead in the top of the second on a Jadan Boyce RBI single, scoring Sloan Laird, and a Michael Buckley sacrifice fly RBI that scored Johnny Behm.
 
Sophomore Hank Heiselbetz, one of the four returners in the lineup, hit OC's first home run of the season, an absolute laser to right field that brought the lead to 3-0 in the top of the third.
 
In the third inning, the Patriots cut into the Eagles' lead on an RBI double and single and tied the game in the fourth on another RBI single.
 
A three-run double gave UT Tyler its first lead of the game in the bottom of the fifth, and they scored the final runs of the game on a three-run home run in the bottom sixth to take a 9-3 lead that went on to be the final score.
 
Junior Levi Betts pitched two scoreless innings to close the game on the bump for Oklahoma Christian.
 
Hunter Jones picked up where he left off last season, going 3-4 with a double. Boyce picked up another hit later in the game to go 2-3 in his debut.
 
Up Next
The Eagles will be back at it tomorrow for the doubleheader of the Lone Star Conference four-game series, with the first pitch set for 1 p.m.