PORTALES, New Mexico - After an extra inning win in game one of a doubleheader, the University of Texas Permian Basin baseball team got a complete game gem from
Jaden Wilcox to sweep Eastern New Mexico on Saturday. The Falcons won the first game thanks to a two-run double by
Brent Rigtrup, 7-5, before taking the second game 6-2.
The Falcon offense struck first in game one.
Mason Hamlin doubled and came around to score on a single by
Austin Hall. The Greyhounds scored a run in the second and three in the third to take a 4-1 lead.
Three straight singles loaded the bases for UTPB in their half of the fifth. With two outs, it was Hall once again coming through with a two-run single to trim the deficit to one.
Gibrian Pena followed with a single to right field, scoring another run and tying the game. Rigtrup singled up the middle to bring home another run and put the Falcons ahead 5-4.
In the sixth, the Greyhounds scored a run to tie the game and forced extra innings. The score remained tied until the ninth when
Ethan Flodstrom was plunked to start the inning. Hall followed with a single before the duo moved into scoring position on a sac bunt. Rigtrup then ripped a double to left field to score two and retake the lead. In the bottom of the inning,
Brock Robarts pitched a 1-2-3 inning to close the door.
Game two started almost the same way as game one for the Falcons.
Jack Haggerty singled and advanced to second on an error. Hamlin worked a walk and the two moved into scoring position on a ground ball. Hall lifted a sac fly to left for the first run of the ballgame and Hamlin scored on a wild pitch for the 2-0 lead. The Greyhounds matched the Falcons in the bottom half of the inning to tie things at two.
The score stayed there until the third inning when Hall drove in Hamlin with a single. That was all UTPB would need. In the fourth,
Clayton Coats and
Payton Matthews hit back-to-back singles to open the frame. After they advanced on a balk,
Carson Johnson's single to run scored Coats. Haggerty plated another run on a sac bunt before Hamlin capped the rally with the fourth UTPB hit of the inning to score Johnson, taking the 6-2 lead. Wilcox allowed just two hits the rest of the way in the win.
Haggerty, Hamlin, Hall, and Rigtrup all had four hits each on the day. Hall drove in five runs between the two games while Rigtrup plated three. Wilcox was brilliant in game two, striking out seven in 7.0 innings and allowing just four hits. Jalen Johnson earned the win in game one, throwing 2.0 shutout innings of relief before Robarts recorded his seventh save of the year.
These schools wrap up a four-game series tomorrow with first pitch scheduled for 9 a.m. due to potential weather in the Portales area in the afternoon.
