ODESSA, Texas (February 16, 2026) – With a two-run lead in the top of the ninth inning and an opportunity to split its first-four game series of the season, The University of Texas Permian Basin baseball team was unable to close out the win in the final inning and fell 16-8 to Texas A&M University-Kingsville after giving up 10 runs in the final inning of their series finale on Monday at Roden Field.

UTPB scored first in the bottom of the first. After leadoff hitter Gael Bernal reached on an error, he was successfully moved to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Cruz Garcia, went to third base on a wild pitch, and then scored on a sacrifice fly to center field by Carlos Chavez.

Tied 1-1 with one out in the bottom of the third, UTPB had the bases loaded for Chavez, and facing an 0-2 count, Chavez came through with a double just over the head of the left fielder to score Daylon Jefcoats and Bernal to make it 3-1 Falcons.

A 1-3-6 pickoff helped Santana Hernandez face the minimum in the top of the first, a 6-4-3 groundball double play helped him limit the Javelinas to one run in the top of the second, and then a caught stealing by Chavez throwing from behind the plate down to second base ended the top of the third.

The good defense by UTPB continued in the top of the fourth as right fielder Tanner Hedrick made the catch while crashing into the fence in foul territory for out number two, and then the final out of the inning came on a unique 1-6-2 caught stealing.

The offense then tried to keep it going in the bottom of the fourth as Braeden Dyck started the inning with a hit by pitch and then aggressively went first to third on a perfectly placed sacrifice bunt by Cole Potestio.

Hedrick followed up with a single up the middle, his second hit of the game, to score Dyck and make it 4-1, and then after an errant throwing by the pitcher trying to pickoff Hedrick at second base put two Falcons in scoring position, a passed ball scored Hedrick to make it 5-1.

That signaled the end of the day for TAMUK starting pitcher James Placke, who finished with 3.1 innings pitched allowing six total runs, three earned runs, four hits, one walk, two hit by pitches and two wild pitches.

Facing a new arm, Bernal was not deterred and hit a sacrifice fly to center field to score Jefcoats to make it a 6-1 Falcons' lead after four innings.

TAMUK got back-to-back two-out RBI singles to right field in the top of the fifth, scoring a runner from second base both times to cut the deficit to 6-3.

Hernandez stranded runners at the corners with a groundball to shortstop in the top of the sixth inning, finishing with 83 pitches and six innings pitched allowing three runs, nine hits, two walks and three strikeouts.

Unfortunately, the Falcons' bullpen could not hold the lead, allowing three runs on four hits and a costly error at second base in the top of the seventh.

That tied the game at 6-6, marking a stretch of five straight runs for the Javelinas.

In the bottom of the seventh, Chavez led off with his second hit of the game, sending a single through the hole on the left side. Then the very next hitter, Demetrius Deramus, sent a 2-1 pitch over the fence for an opposite-field home run to right field, giving UTPB right back the lead (8-6).

After a leadoff walk in the top of the eighth, Alex Thrasher (0-1) came back to record back-to-back called strike threes, and then left two runners on base with a fielder's choice to shortstop.

However, in the top of the ninth, Thrasher allowed a leadoff single followed by a walk to put the tying run on base. Another walk by Thrasher loaded the bases with nobody out, and Elijia West tied the game (8-8) with a two-run single to right center field.

With the bases loaded and nobody out in an 8-8 ballgame in the top of the ninth, a wild pitch scored the go-ahead run.

The Javelinas would ultimately send 13 batters to the plate and scored 10 runs on six hits, three walks, two hit by pitches, two wild pitches and an error in the ninth inning.

"I am proud of the way our guys fought the entire weekend," spoke UTPB Head Coach Justin Phillips. "They were in every game and had a chance to win three of four games this weekend. We have to find a way to close out games… trust each other to do their job and know that we are just as good as the next team."

As a team, TAMUK finished with 19 hits, eight walks and three hit by pitches. 18 of the Javelinas' 19 hits came from the top-seven spots in the batting order (each with at least two hits).

Freshman Zachary Wright (1-0) earned his first-career win for the Javelinas, pitching the final four innings allowing two runs, five hits, one walk and three strikeouts.

UTPB matched its season-high hit total (10) set in game two of Sunday's doubleheader, but it would be enough to get the win on Monday.

Hedrick recorded a hit in each of his first three at bats (3-for-4) for the Falcons while Chavez was 2-for-3 with three RBI's.

The Falcons had four successful sacrifices (2 sac hits, 2 sac flies) on the day while the Javelinas were able to overcome three errors, two wild pitches and a passed ball.

UTPB falls to 3-7 both overall and in the Lone Star Conference while TAMUK improves to 7-3.
 
Series Combined Statistical Leaders:

• Gael Bernal totaled three extra-base hits (2 doubles, 1 triple), led the team with five runs scored, and was third with three RBI's.
• Carlos Chavez hit .400 (6-15), led the team in hits, and tied for the team-lead with five RBI's.
• Demetrius Deramus hit a home run and tied for the team-lead with five RBI's.
• Braeden Dyck hit .385 (5-13) and had a double, a triple and a home run.
• On the hill, starting pitchers Damian Robles (4.2 innings, 1 run), Timmy LaChappa (6.1 innings, 7 runs) and Santana Hernandez (6.0 innings, 3 runs) all gave the team a chance to win.

 
Next Up: UT Permian Basin hits the road next weekend, traveling to St. Edward's University. Game one is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Friday, February 20, in Austin, Texas.