Junior pitcher Kelsie Batten tossed a two-hit shutout in leading the University of Texas-Tyler to a victory over Emory in the first game of the NCAA D-III Tyler, Texas Super Regional.  The No. 2-ranked Patriots raised their overall record to 46-3 following a 4-0 decision over the No. 7 Eagles who slipped to 34-8.

Junior Alyssa Pollard recorded Emory's first hit with one-out single in the third inning while freshman Ashley Powers led off the top of the sixth inning with a single.  Powers advanced to second following a sacrifice bunt by Pollard, but was stranded there after the next two batters were retired. 

Junior third baseman Vanessa Carrizales accounted for two of UT-Tyler's five safeties including a two-run homer, her seventh round tripper of the season, in the bottom of the sixth that gave the Patriots their final runs of the day.  UT-Tyler got on the board in the bottom of the third when sophomore Mel Hinojosa led off the frame with a double.   After Amanda Lopez was inserted as a pinch runner, Emory pitcher Brittany File retired the next two batters before senior Shelby Shelton knocked in Lopez with a triple to right center.  The Patriots extended their lead to 2-0 the following inning after a Raven Rodriguez RBI single.

Meanwhile, Batten kept the Emory bats in check, limiting the Eagles to a season-low tying two hits, striking out nine while not allowing any walks.  File, who hurled all six frames for Emory, suffered the setback, her fifth in 22 decisions, fanning four and walking two.

Emory will look to stay alive in the best-of-three series when the teams collide on Saturday in a 11 am (CDT) start.  If the Eagles win that contest, the deciding game will be played later that afternoon in a scheduled 1:30 pm first pitch.