ODESSA – Despite the frigid temps, the Falcons are starting to heat up in the Lone Star Conference play. UTPB hosted Lubbock Christian Friday at Roden Field for the team's second series of the season, but the first at home. Head coach, Gabe Grinder, said he is ready to see how his team will do at home against a good opponent, and the 3-1 Chaps certainly fit the bill.
LCU got on the board first with a run in the top of the first. The Falcons answered right back with a run of their own to even the contest at 1-1. This set the tone for the rest of the game.
With three runs in the fourth inning, and two in the fifth inning, the Chaps looked like they were going to pull away. However, UT Permian Basin caught up with a big sixth inning highlight homerun by Austin Hall, which led to three runs being scored and took a big bite out of the LCU lead, making the score 6-5 in favor of LCU.
In the eighth inning the Falcon bats came alive again, with Ethan Flodstrom leading off the inning with a double, followed by a Carson Johnson RBI double to bring the score to an even 6-6. With two outs, and runners on second and third, Michael Clapperton drew a walk on a wild pitch that allowed Johnson to score and give the Falcons their first lead of the game 7-6.
Creede Jeffers came in to pitch in the top of the ninth, and fanned three Chaps in a row to seal up the win for the Falcons.
UTPB improves to 2-3 on the season.
Saturday the Falcons and Chaps will play a double header at Roden Field with the first pitch scheduled for noon.
Highlights of the game:
The Falcons scored seven runs on six hits with four RBIs and drew 8 walks.
Mason Hamlin, Flodstrom, and Johnson all ran a double, Hamlin stole a base, and Hall hit a homerun.
UTPB Pitchers struck out 10 batters with Reece Willis and Creede Jeffers collecting three each.
 

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