UT Tyler Fall Report: Championship DNA and the Quest for a Return to Cary

The 2025 season will forever be etched in the history books for the UT Tyler Patriots, as the program reached unprecedented heights under the steady hand of Head Coach Brent Porche. Now entering his 10th season at the helm with a staggering .683 winning percentage, Porche guided his squad to a program-record 49 wins and the school’s first-ever Division II World Series appearance. The Patriots finished second in the gauntlet of the Lone Star Conference with a 40-8 league record before catching fire in the postseason, claiming the South Central Region Championship. Key moments from that historic run included a dominant sweep of Angelo State, including a walk-off to advance to the World Series, in the South Central Regional and a hard-fought victory over Felician on the national stage. As the program transitions into 2026, the challenge shifts from reaching the peak to staying there, as Porche looks to integrate a wave of high-profile transfers with a battle-tested core.

The Offense

The Patriots enter the new year with a significant advantage, returning 53.7% of their offensive production from a lineup that terrorized opposing pitchers last spring. The heartbeat of the order remains Drew Schmidt, a D2 Baseball Second Team All-American who anchored the shortstop position. In 239 ABs, Schmidt hit .410 with 22 doubles, 8 HR, and 60 RBI while ranking 3rd in the conference in strikeout percentage. Joining him in a potent middle infield is Tanner Hornback, who earned First Team All-LSC honors after a campaign where he hit .410 with 18 doubles and 46 RBI in 210 ABs. Hornback proved to be one of the toughest outs in the region, ranking 4th in the conference in strikeout percentage.

Adding even more veteran stability is Bryce Jewell, a versatile utility player and Third Team All-LSC selection. In 189 ABs, Jewell hit .370 with 15 doubles and 63 RBI, a total that ranked 6th among all Lone Star Conference hitters.

The power threat is further bolstered by Kaston Mason, who hit .336 with 9 HR and 32 RBI in 128 ABs, and Connor Clark, who contributed a .331 average and 12 stolen bases in 139 ABs. Brock Bearden also returns to the outfield mix after hitting .323 in 93 ABs, while the team expects a significant leap from Joseph Dominguez, who looked sharp in the fall. Logan Jenkins, coming off a redshirt year, is expected to compete immediately for the starting job at third base.

To supplement this returning core, Porche dipped heavily into the Division I transfer portal. Travis Bragg arrives from Texas State as a left-handed power threat capable of playing the outfield or first base; he was a long-time recruiting target for the staff. Behind the plate, Cole Ketzner joins from South Alabama after previously hitting .401 with 24 doubles at the JUCO level; he has already drawn praise for his leadership and defensive presence during the fall. The Patriots also added elite speed in Kael Babin, a transfer from Omaha who previously swiped 59 bases in a single season at Hutchinson CC, and Luke Smith, an infielder from Rice who will challenge for time at the hot corner.

The Pitching Staff

While the lineup is veteran-heavy, the pitching staff is in the midst of a total overhaul, returning only 23.3% of its innings from 2025. Replacing the 80% of innings lost from the top four arms of last year's rotation will be the primary focus. Dylan Blomquist serves as a vital bridge; though he missed the back half of last season due to injury, he is nearly 100% healthy and returns after posting a 4-2 record with a 5.05 ERA in 35.2 IP. Julio Garcia also brings experience to the staff, having registered a 1-1 record with a 4.50 ERA in 22.0 IP primarily out of the bullpen last season. Noah Lindt is another returning southpaw who showed flashes of dominance, striking out 21 batters in just 15.1 IP.

The influx of new arms is led by Caden Copeland, a Sam Houston transfer with a deep pedigree including 36 appearances at Louisiana Tech. Matthew Mackenzie, coming off a 62-strikeout season at Colby CC, is expected to be an immediate impact starter despite limited action this fall. The bullpen will rely on Garrett Landry, a transfer from Stephen F. Austin who threw 31.1 innings last year, and Brody Logsdon, who looks to regain his form after an injury-shortened stint at Southeastern Oklahoma State. Ethan Jezierski from Angelina College and Tyler Puckett from Wharton County JC—who struck out 36 in 27.2 innings—provide further depth in swingman and relief roles.

Key Departures

The transition on the mound is necessitated by the loss of several decorated arms. Rawley Hector, an ABCA First Team All-South Central Region selection, departs after a stellar 10-2 record and 3.10 ERA in 87.0 IP. Kyle Froelich, a D2 Baseball Third Team All-American who went 10-0 with a 2.75 ERA, has moved on to the Division I ranks at Texas State. The Patriots also bid farewell to First Team All-American Nick Niebur, who was virtually untouchable with a 1.41 ERA and 4 saves in 51.0 IP, and Garrett Arredondo, a Second Team All-Region performer who anchored the back of the bullpen with 7 saves. Offensively, the lone major loss is Justin Williams, the LSC Newcomer of the Year who hit .390 with 15 HR and 72 RBI.

Schedule & Outlook

The UT Tyler 2026 campaign begins with a high-stakes home series against Lubbock Christian starting January 30th. The Chaps are a perennial regional threat, coming off a 34-23 season that included a trip to the South Central Regional. The Patriots then hit the road for a critical early-February clash against Angelo State, the defending LSC Champions who finished last year with a 48-10 mark.

Other pivotal matchups include a February home stand against St. Edward's, a 37-win team that reached the LSC Tournament Championship game last year, and a mid-March series against West Texas A&M, which posted 31 wins in 2025. The schedule also features a unique non-conference series in April against UT Dallas, a program transitioning to Division II after a dominant 32-6 final season in D3. If the newly formed pitching staff can gel quickly behind a lineup that features some of the best pure hitters in the country, the Patriots are well-positioned to make another deep run in the postseason.

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