SAN ANGELO, Texas (February 1, 2025) – One day after dropping its season opener to the No. 2 nationally-ranked Rams, The University of Texas Permian Basin baseball team was swept 18-3 and 11-3 by Angelo State University during its first doubleheader of the season. ASU finished with a combined 29 total runs off 32 hits on the day.
 
Game 1 (UTPB 3, Angelo State 18):

• ASU finished with 18 runs on 22 hits and four UTPB fielding errors.
• The Rams scored three unearned runs in the first inning, the last two coming on back-to-back two-out doubles.
• After loading the bases on singles by Brent Rigtrup, Carson Johnson (bunt single) and Jarren Lewis in the top of the second inning, UTPB got on the scoreboard for the first time this season with a two-out RBI-double of its own, this one a two-run double to left center field by Andrew Prado.
• However, ASU answered with its second-straight three-run inning in the second, ending it with another two-out RBI-hit, this time a two-run single to left field.
• In the end, the Rams finished with eight doubles and four two-out RBI-hits in the contest.
• After leading off the second inning with a single through the right side, Rigtrup came up with a one-out double to right field in the top of the third inning and scored his second run of the game on a fielder's choice by Johnson.
• Back-to-back two-run doubles in the bottom of the third inning made it 10-3 Rams, and then a seven-spot on seven hits in the bottom of the fifth put it out of reach (17-3).
• Preseason All-American Dax Dathe came on in relief for the Rams in the top of the third inning and after he allowed a run in the top of the third, he went on and retired the last 12 batters he faced.
• Rigtrup would finish 3-for-3 to lead the Falcons in game one while Kaleb Scull drew a pair of walks.

 
Game 2 (UTPB 3, Angelo State 11):

• After starting pitcher Brock Robarts (0-1) got out of a bases loaded jam with a popout and groundout to shortstop in the bottom of the first inning, it was UTPB who scored first for the first time in the series in the second inning. After a leadoff double to right field by Taylor McDaniel, Makai DeSoto stepped up to the plate and delivered a two-run home run to center field for the first home run of the season by the Falcons.
• Unfortunately, ASU answered right back with six runs, three of which were unearned, on just one hit, four walks, a hit by pitch and an error in the bottom of the second.
• The Rams would add at least one more run in each of the next three innings, and then trailing 11-2 in the seventh inning, UTPB got a one-out single to center field by Jack Haggerty, followed by two-out RBI-single to left by McDaniel to score Haggerty.
• Haggerty and McDaniel were both 2-for-4 while Johnson drew a pair of walks.

 
Coach's Quote:

• "We have to play all the facets of the game for more than just six outs," said new UTPB Head Coach Justin Phillips. "Once we start putting together multiple innings, we can build momentum. We are waiting to see what's next rather than competing with an expectation."

 
Next Up: The fourth and final game of the series between UTPB and Angelo State will start at 1 p.m. on Sunday, February 2, from Foster Field at 1st Community Credit Union Stadium.