Chris Cano tossed a gem in game one, a 5-1 UT-Permian Basin victory, but the Falcons comeback attempt came up short in a 6-4 loss to New Mexico Highlands Friday afternoon in the first two games of a three-game set at Roden Field.

UTPB scored the first five runs in the opener, taking a 1-0 lead on a Kevin Barnes line drive double down the line into the corner to drive in Latrell Harris in the bottom of the first.

UT-Permian Basin added four in the bottom of the fourth on four different one-run scoring plays. Jack Miller doubled to left to score Barnes, Jordan Zazulak hit a triple to the wall in center field that scored Miller. Zazulak came in on an Alfred Itturalde base hit to left, and he scored later when Tyler Houlihan gave himself up on a bunt to first.

Cano gave up a lone unearned run in the fifth, striking out six batters while allowing four hits and surrendering a single walk in the seven inning complete game appearance.

UTPB came from behind to force extra innings in game two, rebounding after trailing 4-1. A Zazulak double closed the gap to 4-2 in the bottom of the sixth, and Bryan Van Vranken went yard to left field in the bottom of the seventh to close within a run. Doug Clapperton tied the game on an infield single to first as Houlihan scored on an error on the play.

Alvaro Gonzalez went deep in the top of the 10th for New Mexico Highlands, and his two-run home run proved to be the difference in the extra-inning victory.