Even though The University of Texas of the Permian Basin picked up a 4-0 win over Arkansas-Fort Smith in the second game of the series, it very easily could have pulled off a first-day sweep. Instead, the Lions took a 10-9 victory in the opener taking advantage of four errors by the Falcons.
A bases-clearing triple by
Kyle Cormier in the fifth inning of the second game broke a scoreless tie and was part of a four-run inning for the Falcons. The three-bagger by Cormier, who also picked up the win on the mound, was his first of the year. He tossed five scoreless innings, giving up just two hits while striking out four as he improved to 3-1 on the season. Cormier would eventually come around to score to make it 4-0 on a
Chandler Goode sacrifice fly to right.
The duo of Cormier and
Daniel Bernal, who pitched the final two innings, allowed just three hits in picking up UTPB's third shutout of the season. Hits were at a premium for both teams as the Falcons tallied five hits, two of which were for extra bases.
In the opener, the lead changed three times as both teams took advantage of big innings. The Lions jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first, taking advantage of an error in the outfield. With one out in the frame, Cameron Young reached second on the Falcon miscue and would score on the very next pitch when Clay Washington singled up the middle for the RBI.
Like the Lions, UTPB would take advantage of a fielding miscue for its first run. Goode led off the inning with a walk and would later steal second before
Ryne Head reached on a slow roller to second. The throw by Washington at second was wide, allowing Goode to score and move Head to second. A groundout by
Jeremy Miller placed Head on third before
Travis Wilcox grounded out to third, allowing Head to score, giving the Falcons the early lead.
UTPB took a commanding 5-1 lead after three more runs off three hits in the second inning. Another error by Arkansas-Fort Smith led to two unearned runs. Both teams would combine for six miscues in the field, including four by UTPB.
Two runs by the Lions in the fourth cut into the Falcon lead, but UTPB would answer with a lone run in the bottom of the inning, giving it a 6-3 edge. The Falcons had a chance to blow the game open in the fourth as they had bases loaded with no outs, but only came away with one run.
Arkansas-Fort Smith busted out for three of its nine hits in the game in the fifth which led to four runs, giving it a 7-6 lead which they would not lose the rest of the way. The Lions put up one more in the sixth and two more in the seventh. The Falcons had their chances in the top of the seventh to get out of the inning without any runs, but an error and a failed pickoff attempt proved to be game-winners for the Lions.
Down 10-6 in their final at-bat, the Falcons picked up two hits, including a two-run double by Goode, but the rally fell short as Fort Smith snapped UTPB's three-game win streak.
The two teams will play two more games tomorrow starting at noon at Roden Field.
