TYLER, TX (03.16.18) - UT Dallas junior closer Garrett Hale recorded a six-out save Friday night as the Comets held off rival and No. 23-ranked Texas-Tyler for a 3-2 victory to open an three-game American Southwest Conference series.

Hale entered the contest to open the bottom of the 8th for UTD and got out of two tough innings to lock down the win for the Comets (11-8, 6-1 ASC). The two teams will return to the field at 1 p.m. Saturday for two games.

The Comets opened the scoring in the top of the 1st with a Connor Scruggs RBI groundout, scoring lead-off hitter Josh Covey, but the host Patriots would answer with a run in the bottom of the 3rd to knot the game, 1-1.

In the top of the 4th, Rodney Corbin broke the tie with an RBI triple to right center, scoring Scruggs. On batter later, Peyton Becker plated Corbin with a single through the right side of the UTT infield, putting the Comets up 3-2. The Patriots would then load the bases with no outs in the bottom of the frame, but would get just one run after a double play and a strikeout. UTT would then threaten to score the game-tying run in the 7th, but relief pitcher Tristin DerMargosian got out of a bases-loaded jam with a pop up.

The Patriots would get runners to second and third in the 8th off Hale and load the bases in the 9th before the right-hander ended the game with a ground out to first base.

Jamie Andriot (4-2) picked up the win after giving up two earned runs on six hits in 6.0 innings of work. Andriot struck out three and walked three. Logan McPherson and DerMargosian shared the 7th before giving way to Hale. Hale picked up one strikeout with two hits a two walks as he matched his longest outing of the season.

Corbin and Ryan Burciaga finished 2-for-4 to lead the Comet offense.