Jordyn Van Atta homered for the second time in 2013, leading UTPB with four RBI in a 10-8 come-from-behind victory to complete the series sweep at Oklahoma Panhandle State Saturday afternoon.
Both teams came out swinging in the early innings as the Falcons held a 6-5 lead after three. UTPB scored four in the top of the second to lead 4-0 as Van Atta scored on a wild pitch,
Ryne Head hit a sac fly to left to drive in
Mike Briseno and a
Tyler Forney double with two outs scored both
Nelson Quintero and
Tanor Tinley.
Holding a one-run lead after the Aggies came back with three in the bottom of the second, Van Atta went yard in the top of the third after
Neil Madsen was hit by a pitch leading off the inning to increase the lead out to 6-3.
Panhandle State got back to within one in the bottom of the third, hitting its second two-run homer of the day to trail 6-5.
Forney doulbled with a runner in scoring position again in the UTPB fourth, driving in one after Quintero led off the inning with a base hit.
OPSU got the run back once again in the bottom of the fourth with an RBI single, and the Aggies took their first lead of the day with their third two-run home run of the game in the bottom of the fifth to lead 8-7.
The Falcons tied the game in the top of the seventh with a Quintero bomb, his second of the season to even it up at 8-8.
Van Atta was the catalyst in the top of the ninth, putting the ball in play and reaching on an error at second with two outs and runners on first and third to score
Ozzie Bueno and Head for the game-winning runs.
Jacob Ricossa earned the save in the ninth after loading the bases with three walks. He left the bags packed, ending the game on a strike out.
Briseno and Quintero each led UTPB with three hits in a game that featured 27 combined hits between the two teams. Forney drove in three runs on the day and Quintero scored three time.
Isaac Diaz picked up the victory, entering in the fifth to throw 3.1 shutout innings. he struck out three while giving up three hits in the relief outing.
UTPB returns to the field Tuesday, traveling to Lubbock Christian for a single non-conference contest.
