ODESSA, Texas (March 1, 2026) – The UT Permian Basin baseball team was swept for the first time in 2026, falling 8-4 in game four against West Texas A&M University on Sunday. All four games in the series were close. The Falcons lost each game against the Buffaloes by a total of 10 runs, including losing by no more than four runs in any game.

WT homered with two outs in the top of the first inning, a solo shot down the left field line by Jacob Police.

Then after UTPB left two runners in scoring position in the bottom of the first, WT scored an unearned run on a passed ball in the top of the second inning.

UTPB got a leadoff walk by Braeden Dyck and a two-out RBI-hit on a single up the middle by Marcos Castro to get on the scoreboard in the bottom of the second.

Making his first-career start, pitcher Zeke Alexander (0-1) would follow with a 1-2-3 top of the third inning featuring three straight flyouts, and pitched a second straight 1-2-3 inning in the fourth.

It was again Castro at the dish helping UTPB score in the bottom of the fourth, this time laying down a sacrifice bunt to score Daylon Jefcoats from third base while an errant throw by the pitcher also allowed Jarren Lewis to score all the way from first base and put the Falcons ahead 3-2. It was the second error in as many plays by the WT defense.

Alexander was on it through five innings, allowing two runs, five hits, zero walks, one hit by pitch and three strikeouts.

Unfortunately, in the bottom of the fifth, UTPB left two runners in scoring position for the second time in the game, and just like it did the first time, WT took advantage in the next half inning. An error at third base to kickoff the top of the sixth led to what was ultimately a three-error inning featuring five unearned runs on just one hit by the Buffaloes. WT took back the lead with a two-run single, and then an error by the Alexander fielding a bunt allowed a third run to score and ended his afternoon. After a second straight error loaded the bases, the final two runs of the inning would score on back-to-back hit by pitches by two different Falcon pitchers.

Alexander would finish with a line of 5.2 innings pitched allowing six hits and seven total runs, but just one earned run.

The leaders at the plate for UTPB were Dyck, who finished 2-for-3, and Castro, who had a pair of RBI's on a single and a sacrifice bunt.

Including the one by Castro, UTPB laid down a season-high four sacrifice hits as a team.

"We have to start playing all three sides of the ball and we have to stop shooting ourselves in the foot," spoke Head Coach Justin Phillips. "They have to stick together, play together and finish out games. We are at our best when we trust the process and play Falcon baseball."

It was the first time in the last four seasons that UTPB (4-14 overall, 4-14 Lone Star Conference) has not earned a win in its series against WT (12-6, 12-6).
 
Series Combined Statistical Leaders:

• Gael Bernal hit .412 (7-17) and led the team in both hits and runs scored (5).
• Braeden Dyck hit .429 (5-18), was second on the team in both hits and runs scored (4), and matched Demetrius Deramus with a pair of doubles.
• Daylon Jefcoats hit .333 (5-15) and led the team with five RBI's.
• Zeke Alexander (1.59 ERA) allowed just one earned run in 5.2 innings on Sunday.
• Damian Robles (2.57 ERA) allowed five hits, three total runs, two earned runs and zero walks while pitching all seven innings in a complete game in game one on Saturday.
• Santana Hernandez (5.79 ERA) allowed four hits and three runs in 4.2 innings to right the ship on Friday.
• Sebastian Lozoya (0.00 ERA) allowed just two hits and one run while pitching the final 3.2 innings of relief in game two on Saturday.

 
Next Up: UT Permian Basin heads to the road next weekend to play at Eastern New Mexico University. Game one is scheduled for 6 p.m. Central Time / 5 p.m. Mountain Time on Friday, March 6, from the Greyhound Baseball Field in Portales, New Mexico.