LUBBOCK, Texas - Despite some early offense the University of Texas Permian Basin fell in the winner's bracket of the NCAA South Central Regional to Lubbock Christian, 23-5, at Hays Field in Lubbock, Texas. The Falcons will need to beat the Chaps twice on Saturday to keep their season alive and advance.
 
The Falcons answered a run by the Chaps in the top of the first with two of their own. Jack Haggerty singled before a fielder's choice swapped him with Ethan Flodstrom. Three pitches later, Austin Hall homered to right for the 2-1 lead. Clayton Coats hit a solo home run to left in the second and the Falcons led by two.
 
In the third, the Chaps tied the score on four hits and the score remained there until the fifth. Lubbock Christian blew the game open with three in the fifth, four in the sixth, and four in the seventh before the Falcons scored again. Haggerty added an RBI single in the seventh while Brent Rigtrup had an RBI single in the eighth, but Falcon pitching couldn't slow down the Chaps.
 
UTPB is back at it against Lubbock Christian tomorrow at 2 p.m. in an elimination game for the Falcons. With a win they'll play a winner-take-all game with the Chaps following the game.