ODESSA, Texas (February 13, 2026) – The University of Texas Permian Basin baseball team took a lead after the first inning for the first time this season, but a stretch of 10 runs in four innings for the Javelinas, including five runs in the fifth inning, doomed the Falcons in what was ultimately a 12-4 defeat in the series opener against Texas A&M University-Kingsville.

A double down the left field line by Joshua Endo just two pitches into the game led to a run in the top of the first inning for TAMUK. Back-to-back groundouts allowed the runner to move to third base and then to score, but they also allowed starting pitcher Sebastian Cabral (0-1) to limit the damage to just one run.

UTPB answered in the bottom of the first inning as Daylon Jefcoats was hit by the pitch with one out, stole second base, and then came around to score on an RBI-single to center field by Carlos Chavez. Chavez moved from first to third on a single through the right side by Alden Quintanilla and then scored on a sacrifice fly to right field by Gael Bernal to give the Falcons their first lead during the first inning so far this season.

It was also the second year in a row UTPB led in the first inning of its series opener against TAMUK, but in both contests, the Falcons could not seal the deal.

After the first two batters reached base in the top of the second inning, Cabral got back-to-back swinging strikeouts followed by a groundball back to the mound to retire the side.

Making his first start behind the plate this season was redshirt freshman Hudson Mitchell, who threw out a runner trying to steal second base in the top of the third for his fourth caught stealing in four appearances so far this year.

Unfortunately, the second leadoff double of the game for TAMUK in the top of the fourth inning was followed two batters later by another double, breaking a 2-2 tie before the second RBI-groundout of the game by the Javelinas made it a 4-2 advantage.

For the second inning in a row and for the third time in the game, TAMUK led off with a double in the top of the fifth inning, this one the second leadoff double by Endo. Things then went off the rials a bit as it took four Falcon pitchers to record the first out of the inning, and in the end, the Javelinas would bat around the lineup and plated five runs on four hits and three walks in the frame to open up a commanding 9-2 advantage.

After TAMUK left the bases loaded in the top of the fifth, the top of the sixth inning started with a walk and a hit by pitch and was later followed by back-to-back RBI-singles to cap off a stretch of 10 runs scored in four innings by the Javelinas.

Christian Duran would end the scoring streak by pitching a 1-2-3 top of the seventh inning, and then Christian Rodriguez faced the minimum in the eighth thanks to a 5-4-3 inning-ending double play.

UTPB Head Baseball Coach Justin Phillips said after the loss, "We have to trust the basics, we have to trust the process, and we have to play as a team. We win and we lose as a team."

Only two pitchers saw action for TAMUK. Garrett Nail (1-1) would get the start and the win after going five full innings with five strikeouts while surrendering just two runs and three hits. Nail now extends his league lead in strikeouts to 21. Ruben Rendon III closed out the game for the Javelinas, tossing four complete innings of work to earn the save.

UTPB was not so lucky when it came to limiting how deep it went into its bullpen. Six different Falcon pitchers would see action on the mound, with four of them making appearances in the fifth inning when the Javelinas blew the game open.

Braden Duff and Endo would particularly have great offensive days for the Javelinas as the junior outfield duo combined for six hits, four RBI's, three doubles and a triple from Duff.

The Javelinas would finish with more extra-base hits (6) than the Falcons had in total hits (4).

UTPB was held off the scoreboard for five innings after scoring two runs in the first inning, and only notched one hit during that same stretch.

Braeden Dyck led the UTPB offense with a 2-for-4 effort featuring a double and a triple.

TAMUK, which this week moved up two spots from No. 10 to No. 8 in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers of America (NCBWA) South Central Region Poll, improves to 5-2 to start its season while UTPB falls to 2-5.

This series represents a battle between the pitching staff (TAMUK) with the most strikeouts (71) and the offense (UTPB) with the fewest strikeouts (32) in the Lone Star Conference throughout the first two weeks of the season. In addition, the TAMUK offense sat in a tie for second in the conference with 65 total hits and ranked sixth with 55 total runs scored coming into the weekend.

Games two and three of the series vs. Texas A&M-Kingsville will be at 12 p.m. and 3 p.m., respectively, on Saturday, February 14 (Valentine's Day), from Roden Field.