FORT SMITH, Ark. – A six-run third inning by The University of Texas of the Permian baseball team proved to be enough as the Falcons won the third game of the series over Arkansas-Fort Smith 7-5.
The Falcons pounded out nine hits including two each by
Chandler Goode and
Ryan Giacomini and took advantage of four errors by the Lions which led to three unearned runs.
Like the first two games of the series, Arkansas-Fort Smith jumped out with three quick runs in the bottom of the first thanks to three hits and an error by UTPB. The score would stay that way until the Falcons busted out with four hits including a two-run double by
Travis Wilcox and an RBI single by
Andy Quiring. Giacomini led off the frame with a single to center while
Hugo Hernandez walked and Goode singled to load the bases with no outs. Quiring's single plated Giacomini for the Falcons' first run of the game before
Jeremy Miller reached on an error by Lion shortstop Matt Brown allowed him to reach. Miller's ball enabled both Goode and Hernandez to score to give UTPB the lead.
The Falcon rally continued with no outs when Wilcox's double scored Miller and Quiring to make it 5-3 before Wilcox eventually came around to score on an error by catcher Ethan Adams.
The Lions cut into the lead with a run in the fourth when Christian Allen hit a sacrifice fly to center to plate Adams who led off the inning with a single to center.
UTPB answered with a run of its own in the fifth when
Jeremy Miller, who led off the inning by reaching on an error by Cameron Young at third, came around to score on a single by
Brantley Miller for his only hit of the game.
UA-Fort Smith kept the game interesting in the eighth by scoring a lone run in the frame, but
Jeff Fisher-Gasper, who pitched the final one-and-a-third innings, allowed just one hit to pick up his first save of the season.
The Falcons improved to 7-13 overall and will be back in action tomorrow when they take on Cameron in Lawton, Okla. at noon for a single game. They will finally return home on Wednesday when UTPB hosts Abilene Christian for one game starting at 1 p.m.
