By: Logan Maddox
Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 Five Falcons went yard in Saturday's baseball doubleheader at Oklahoma Christian. After Gabe Melendez and
Garret Thornton hit home runs in the first matchup of the day,
Pedro Astacio,
Cole Dickie, and
Devin Ferrari followed suit with long balls of their own in the second game.
UT Permian Basin's offense came alive in the later innings of Saturday's opening game. Thanks to a two-run double from
Oswaldo Godina, a two-run homer from Gabe Melendez, and several costly walks issued by Eagle pitching, the Falcons struck for four runs in the top of the fifth inning, helping UTPB out to a 4-0 lead. Although Oklahoma Christian would rally to tie it in the sixth, a solo shot by
Garret Thornton gave the Falcons a 5-4 advantage heading into the final frame. Unfortunately, the Eagles battled back again in the home-half of the seventh inning and walked it off to earn a 6-5 victory.
Godina was the only Falcon with multiple hits in Game 1, going 2-for-4 at the plate with a double and two RBI.
Starting pitcher
Parker Buys struck out seven batters in four innings of work.
Caleb Vuono pitched well in relief, surrendering just one hit and one walk in two innings.
The string of hard-hit balls continued for UT Permian Basin in the second showdown on Saturday afternoon. After
Devin Ferrari doubled to lead off the second inning,
Pedro Astacio sent a blast beyond the left-field wall to put the Falcons on top 2-1. UTPB then hit two two-run homers in the sixth, as Ferrari and
Cole Dickie each hit blasts to left field. Despite the strong offensive performance, topped off by a six-run sixth inning, UT Permian Basin could not hang with a stout Oklahoma Christian offense and fell 17-11.
Astacio finished 2-for-3 with a double, a home run, three runs scored, and two runs batted in in Game 2. Ferrari was 2-for-4 with a double, a homer, two RBI, and two runs while Dickie went 1-for-2 with a four-bagger, two runs batted in, and two runs.
Cade Pollard picked up the start and struck out two batters in 2 1/3 innings pitched.
Torren Brozovich had 1 1/3 innings on the mound and tallied four strikeouts.
The Falcons and Eagles finish up this weekend's series in Oklahoma City tomorrow afternoon. First pitch of that Lone Star Conference meeting at Oklahoma Christian is set for 1 p.m. Sunday. Download the UTPB Athletics App to follow the team all season long.
