TYLER - Tarleton couldn't capitalize on chances in the final innings while walks proved too costly in Friday's season opener against new LSC rival UT Tyler in a 6-3 loss at Irwin Field.

The game started out in an excellent pitching duel paced by Tarleton's Justin Waltmon through the first five innings. Waltmon's first five innings as a Texan were nearly flawless as the right-hander struck out eight and allowed only one walk over that span.

Tarleton's offense caught fire on a cold night in the top of the sixth inning when Tyler Fowler led things off with his first hit of the season. After Wade Raburn (single) and Blake Burns (walk) reached base behind him to load the bases, Luke Morton wore a pitch on the elbow to plate the game's first run.

Two batters later, Jordan Parker cashed in a pair of RBI with a two-run single up the middle to plate Raburn and Burns for a 3-0 Tarleton lead.

UT Tyler answered with three of the their own in the sixth and then took the lead with a run in the seventh and two in the eighth for some insurance. Tarleton surrendered nine walks, an error and a hit by pitch ­- 11 total - free bases between the sixth and eighth innings that led to all six Tyler runs.

Despite valiant fight from the offense, things weren't meant to be in the opener. An inning-ending double play in the seventh strikeouts in the eighth and ninth with two on and bases loaded, respectively, ended Tarleton's offensive threats in each of the last three innings.

Waltmon finished with a line of 5.1 innings of work, allowing three runs on two hits and three walks while striking out nine. The bullpen combined for the final 2.2 innings of work while issuing eight walks and striking out four.

Parker and Fowler paced the offense with two hits each while Raburn and Burns had one hit each in Tarleton's six-hit effort. Burns added three walks on the night while Parker led the team with two RBI.

The Texans and Patriots will return to action tomorrow night at 6 p.m. in Tyler. The games count toward the Lone Star Conference standings as a part of the closed league schedule in the LSC.