The University of Texas of the Permian Basin baseball team split its first two games of the weekend against Newman, taking the opener 5-1 before dropping game two 9-2 at Roden Field in Odessa, Texas.

Ryne Head helped to keep the game deadlocked at 0-0 in the top of the first, throwing out Jerrod Flax at home from right field as he attempted to score from second on a ball that fell between three fielders in shallow right.

UTPB got on the scoreboard right away in the bottom of the first as Tyler Forney hit roped the first pitch he saw for a single down the line into left. A sacrifice bunt moved him to second, and following a ground out to second that advanced him over to third, a two out base hit through the right side by Michael Rice scored him for the first run of the game.

Jordan Van Atta added to the UTPB total in the bottom of the second, roping a double off the top of the wall in left with one out. A single through the right side by Arturo Carerra put runners on the corners, and Van Atta scored a batter later as Ozzie Bueno struck out swinging on a ball that got away from the Newman catcher.

The Jets had an opportunity to tie the game in the top of the sixth. John Branum doubled deep into the gap in left center with runners on first and second, but the ball one-hopped the fence and only one run scored as a result of the ground rule double. Newman left both runners stranded in scoring position as UTPB starting pitcher Brett Rogers got a pop up to second for the inning's second out, and reliever Jacob Ricossa got out of the jam on a swinging strikeout to keep the Falcons up by a run.

UTPB got the run back and added another insurance run in its half of the six. Forney picked up his second hit of the game with the bases loaded and one out, driving the ball off the base of the fence in left field to score Nelson Quintero and Scott Hastings. Ryne Head plated the fifth run for the Falcons a batter later, executing a perfect squeeze play on a bunt down the first base line with Ozzie Bueno bearing down from third.

Brett Rogers improved to 2-3 on the season for UTPB, allowing one run on seven hits while walking none in 5.2 innings. Ricossa picked up his first save of 2013 in 1.1 innings. 

Zak Mickens took the loss for Newman, throwing six innings and giving up five runs on 10 hits and a walk with six strikeouts for the outing.

Quintero was a perfect 3-3 at the plate for the Falcons in the series opener as UTPB held a slight 10-9 hitting advantage in game one.

Newman struck first in the second game. Branum was caught between second and third in the top of the second, and the throw from home to second sailed over the infielder's heads into the outfield, allowing Branum to score safely from second.

UTPB got the run back in the bottom half of the inning. Van Atta led off the frame with a  full-count single into right and Trey Cochran followed with a single between the pitcher and first baseman. The throw to the bag attempting to get Cochran out at first went to the fence allowing Van Atta to move to third, and he scored on an RBI from Quintero when his ground ball to second was bobbled and left all runners safe.

Newman broke the game open in the top of the fifth on a three-run triple to the center field wall by Ricky Sanchez that put the Jets ahead 4-1. Sanchez came in to score in the next at bat on an infield groundout for a 5-1 advantage.

NU added four more runs in the top of the sixth to increase its lead out to 9-1.

UTPB added a final run in the top of the ninth on a double by Tanor Tinley to left and two consecutive balks later in the inning that scored him from second.

Jacob Furr improved to 2-2 on the season with six innings of one-run ball. He struck out six while walking one and allowing three hits.

Nick Duffield fell to 0-4 in 5+ innings of work, giving up five runs on five hits and a walk with three strikeouts.

The teams are back in action to close out the three-game series tomorrow afternoon. FIrst pitch at Roden Field is scheduled for 1 p.m.