Although The University of Texas of the Permian Basin split with Panhandle State today, it secured the No. 3 seed in the upcoming Heartland Conference Tournament thanks to a Texas A&M International loss.
The Falcons won the opening game of the series with the Aggies 16-11 before losing the nightcap 10-7 in what took nearly eight hours to complete. UTPB led 16-3 in the opener going into the top of the seventh – the Aggies final at-bat, but four hits, two errors and eight runs later, Panhandle State made a game of it. The Falcons picked up 13 hits and scored three runs thanks to six errors by the Aggies.
UTPB scored at least two runs in the first four innings, including four in the first and four in the sixth, while the trio of
Connor Lewis,
Jacob Ricossa and
Kyle Bandujo allowed 10 hits and seven earned runs. Lewis picked up his fourth win of the season after tossing five innings giving up one earned run off six hits while striking out one.
In the second game, Panhandle State jumped out to a 2-0 lead before UTPB tied the game in the bottom of the first when
Andy Quiring reached on an error by OPSU pitcher Daulton Perry, allowing
Jeremy Miller and
Hugo Hernandez to score.
Four more runs for the Aggies in the third gave them a 6-2 lead thanks to three hits, a bases loaded walk and an error by the Falcons. The Falcons answered with a run in the bottom of the inning when
Ryan Giacomini singled up the middle to plate
Chandler Goode, who led off the inning with a walk.
UTPB would eventually take a 7-6 lead after scoring a run in the fifth, two more in the sixth and one in the seventh. The one-run cushion didn't last long as the Aggies tied the game in the eighth when Mike Senter grounded out to second, which was deep enough to score Luke Rodi from third.
The momentum would continue for the Aggies as they put up three more in the top of the ninth off three hits and held off a Falcon rally in the ninth for the win.
The Falcons moved to 23-25 on the year and 15-14 in Heartland Conference play. The two teams will play the final game of the series tomorrow at 1 p.m. on Roden field.
