Looking for their first win of the season, UT Permian Basin Baseball got it thanks in large part to a pair of sophomores on the mound and at the plate.
Cole Tague was impressive in his first start as a Falcon, tossing 4.2 scoreless innings while striking out four. At the dish,
Carson Johnson was a triple shy of the cycle and his home run broke the game wide open.
The Falcons didn't have to do much to score their first runs of the afternoon, capitalizing on some St. Mary's mistakes. A single and hit batter brought
Michael Clapperton to the plate. The senior fouled off three straight pitches to draw an eight-pitch walk, loading the bases. DeSoto was hit by a pitch to bring home the first run before
Jack Haggerty plated a run on a ground ball.
Cooper Ciesielski doubled to lead off the fourth before scoring on a ground ball by DeSoto. Hanging onto a 3-0 lead, Tague ran into trouble in the fourth, allowing the Rattlers to load the bases. Head Coach
Gabe Grinder summoned
Andrew Troppmann from the bullpen who got a fly out to end the inning on the first pitch of his afternoon.
Ciesielski and Clapperton opened the sixth with back-to-back singles before Ciesielski scored on a wild pitch. DeSoto worked a walk before Clapperton would also score on another wild pitch and advancing DeSoto to second.
Jack Haggerty bunted over DeSoto, which allowed
Mason Hamlin to bring him home on a sac fly to centerfield.
Ethan Flodstrom was hit by a pitch, the Falcons were hit five times on the afternoon, before Johnson's home run down the leftfield line made it 8-0 Falcons.
The Rattlers made things a little interesting in the late innings by finally pushing across runs but it was much too late as the Falcons held on for the 8-4 win and the first in the Grinder era.
Johnson finished the day 3-for-5 and two RBI. Ciesielski also added a pair of hits and scored twice. DeSoto drove in two runs and reached base three times.
Troppmann earned the win out of the bullpen, striking out two and retiring all four batters he faced.
Creede Jeffers earned the save pitching the final three innings of action.
The Falcons are back in the Basin this weekend to face Lubbock Christian. The team's home opener is this Friday at 1 PM at Roden Field. Download the UTPB Athletics App to follow the team all season long.
