ODESSA, Texas - Six runs scored in the final three innings helped Texas Permian Basin knock off Lubbock Christian in game one of their four game series on Friday, Feb. 10.
For the fifth straight game, Lubbock Christian (3-2, 3-2 LSC) scored in the first inning, after an RBI double from
Nate Van Maanen scored
Eduardo Acosta, giving the Chaparrals an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first. UTPB (2-3, 2-3 LSC) answered in the bottom of the opening frame, as Mason Hamlin scored on a double steal attempt by the Falcons. The game was tied at one run apiece, but
Bo Hogeboom,
Carson Ogilvie, Van Maanen and
Marcos Escalera picked off the runner at second to end the inning.
Both teams were quiet for the next few innings, with the Chap infield of Ogilvie,
Ryan Ball and Van Maanen turning a double play in the bottom of the second inning. Hogeboom led off the top of the fourth reaching on an error, before coming home to score off an RBI triple by Acosta. Acosta later came in to score on the same play thanks to another Falcon error, and LCU went back ahead 3-1. The Chaps extended the lead on the next at-bat, as
Chris Shull hit his second home run of the season, a shot over the left field fence, and Lubbock Christian swelled the advantage to 4-1 going into the bottom of the fourth inning.
The Chaparral offense continued to score in the top of the fifth inning, with Ogilvie bringing home Hogeboom and
Jarred Gibson with a two-RBI double to push the LCU lead to 6-1. Ogilvie finished out the inning strong on the defensive side of the ball, helping turn another double play in the bottom of the fifth frame.
The Falcons found their offense again in the bottom of the sixth inning, after Jack Haggerty scored on a wild pitch by Escalera. Austin Hall got in on the action for Texas Permian Basin, hitting a three-run shot to left field, cutting the Lubbock Christian lead down to 6-5.
After a leadoff double in the bottom of the eighth by Ethan Flodstrom, another double by Carson Johnson brought him home, and UTPB tied the game at six runs apiece. A ground out by Cooper Ciesielski moved Johnson to third, and a wild pitch by
Dustin Hardwick brought Johnson home, and the Falcons took a 7-6 lead into the final inning. Creede Jeffers came in to close out the game for the Falcons in the top of the ninth, striking out the side and giving Texas Permian Basin the come-from-behind win.
It is the first loss for the Chaps to UTPB since Apr. 23, 2021, ending a seven-game winning streak. All five losses for LCU against the Falcons have come at Roden Field.
Acosta led the Chaps on offense, going 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs while also drawing a pair of walks. Ogilive also went 2-for-3 with two RBI.
Hall paced UTPB, going 1-for-3 with a three-run home run. Flodstrom went 1-for-2 with two runs scored, drawing two walks.
The two pitching staffs walked a combined 13 batters, with LCU walking eight. Andrew Troppmann (2-0) earned the win, going 0.2 innings in relief and striking out a batter. Jeffers earned his second save of the season, striking out all three batters he saw in the ninth inning.
Dustin Hardwick (0-1) was handed the loss, going one inning, giving up two runs off three hits and striking out a pair. Escalera started the game, going 5.1 innings, allowing four runs off two hits, walking six batters and striking out two.
Logan Ellis went 0.2 innings in relief, allowing one run off one hit.
Josh Akers closed out the contest for the Chaps, walking a pair and striking out one in an inning of work.
Lubbock Christian will try to take the series lead, taking on UTPB in a pair of seven inning games on Saturday, Feb. 11 at Roden Field. First pitch for game one is set for 12:00 P.M.
