The Heartland Conference

After getting out to a running start in the game one with a 7-0 win over St. Mary’s; the University of Texas of the Permian Basin lost the second half of the double header 3-0 in San Antonio Saturday.

In a game that looked like it would be a pitcher’s duel through the first three innings ended up being a solid offensive showing for the Falcons.

UTPB got rolling in the fourth inning when singles by senior outfielder Chris Wagner and sophomore catcher Evan Gattis put runners on first and second with no outs. Junior designated hitter Austin Wooldridge put down a sacrifice bunt to move the Wagner and Gattis into scoring position at second and third. Senior first basemen Chris Hook drew a walk to load the bases with one out for junior outfielder Jeremy Miller. Miller ripped a double up the left field line to score Wagner and Gattis while moving Hook over to third base giving UTPB a 2-0 lead. Garrett Wolff hit a deep fly ball to right-center field for a sacrifice fly scoring hook and moving Miller to third with two outs and bumping the score up to 3-0. Junior shortstop Brantley Miller knocked a single up the middle to score Miller and give UTPB a 4-0 advantage. B. Miller put himself in scoring position with a stolen base, but was left stranded after a groundout ended the Falcon rally.

The Falcons continued to roll in the fifth inning. Junior centerfielder Chandler Goode reached after he was hit by a pitch. After a fly out, Gattis cleared the bases with a one out homerun over the left field fence to make the Falcon’s side of the scoreboard two runs heaver at 6-0.

UTPB tacked on one more run when senior second basemen Gordy LaHann scored when the catcher tried to pick him off of third base and over threw the third basemen. LaHann scored on the throwing error to increase the UTPB lead to 7-0.

After hitting the first batter of the inning, starting pitcher Connor Lewis retired the last three hitters of the inning with a fly out to center and two strikeouts on his way to a complete game shutout.

Lewis, had nine strikeouts with no walks giving up four hits with no runs forcing nine fly outs and three ground outs while improving his record to 2-0 on the season.

UTPB hitters were lead by Gattis, who had two hits with a home run, two runs and two RBIs in game one.  J. Miller was right behind him with a run and hit and two RBIs.

As a team UTPB had seven hits and seven runs with six RBIs and no errors.

St. Mary’s hitters had no runs on four hits with a pair of errors in the game. SMU Michael Villarreal drops to 2-0 on the season as he went 4.1 inning giving up six hits and six runs (all earned) with three strikeouts and a walk with one hit batsmen. Carl O’Neal came in to finish the game going 2.2 with one hit and one run (earned) with two strikeouts and a walk.

UTPB would not fair as well in game two as the Falcons fell 3-0 to the Rattlers.