ALAMOSA, Colo. – The Grizzlies are back on the road this weekend as they close out a 14-game road trip to start the season with a three game series in Texas. The Grizzlies also close out non-conference play this weekend.
 
OPPONENT: UT Permian Basin Falcons (5-2)
 
WHEN: Saturday Feb. 23 (DH) – 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
             Sunday Feb. 24 – 11 a.m.
 
WHERE: Odessa, Texas - UT Permian Basin Baseball Field
 
First Pitch
• Adams State continues the long road trip this week as they travel down to Odessa, Texas to take on UT Permian Basin in a three game series on Saturday and Sunday.
• The Grizzlies remain winless on the year as they dropped all four games to the University of the Southwest last weekend..
• The Grizzlies are off next weekend before their home opener against Dixie State on March 8-10.
 
Quick Hits
Adams State Baseball History
• Grizzlies Baseball begins its seventh season as an NCAA sport. The program was re-instituted prior to the 2013 season after a 35 year hiatus.
• Prior to the 2013, Adams State last sponsored baseball in 1976 season when the program was still a member of the NAIA.
• Adams State enjoyed quite a bit of success winning back-to-back RMAC championships in 1973 and 1974.
• The Grizzlies posted the best overall record in the conference in each of the last four years (1973-76) while sponsoring the sport before it was discontinued.

The Capra File
• Head Coach James Capra has led the Grizzlies Baseball in each of the last six seasons. Coach Capra is a graduate of Adams State (Class of 1980).
• Coach Capra was a member of the 1976 team before it was cut. He also played football for three seasons at Adams State and was a three-year starter at wide receiver.
 
Last Time Out
• The Grizzlies went 0-4 last week against the University of the Southwest as they had opportunities to win the first two games of the series, giving up five runs in the fifth and sixth inning of the first game and giving up ten runs in the last two innings of the second game.
• The third and fourth games were not nearly as close as the Grizzlies lost 10-4 and 9-2
 
Batter Up!
• Offense has not been a problem for the Grizzlies this season so far as they have four hitters sitting above .300
• Nico Nintze has been on another level so far with a .429 batting average and .714 on base percentage, respectively, and with nine RBI, all of those numbers lead the team.
• Logan Bistrup has provided good pop in the middle of the lineup with two home runs, two doubles, and two triples.
• Orlando Romero is making the most of his opportunities at his plate as five of his six hits have been for extra bases including one home run.
 
On The Mound
• Kolton Bleggi continues to lead the team in ERA with a 2.45 as he has been a bright spot in the bullpen for the Grizzlies.
• Troy Gutbub has been the workhorse in the rotation as he has 15.0 innings pitched.
• Daniel Brennan is leading the team in strikeouts with 16 in only 13.2 innings. Gutbub is second with 14 strikeouts in 15 innings.
 
Road Warriors
• The Grizzlies are one the road for their first 14 games on the road before playing a single game on their home turf.
• Adams State will play a total of 30 games on the road this season and 20 games at home.
 
Scouting UT Permian Basin
• The Falcons enter the series at 5-2 as their only two losses have been in the first series of the year against Rodgers State. Since then they have won four in a row heading into this weekend.
• The top hitter for the Falcons is Peyton Koopman who is hitting .385 on the season
• Gabriel Melendez is the RBI leader for the Falcons with eight on the year while also hitting .333
• Tylor Frailey has seven RBI and is second on the team in that category.
• On the mound the Falcons have shined as they have six pitchers with an ERA under 3.00
• Leading the team in ERA is Jake Rohde who has an impressive 0.00 ERA in 8.1 innings pitched.
• Three pitchers are tied right now for the strikeouts lead with six. Krisjon Segleski, Ivan Thomas, and Jake Rohdes all are tied at the top.
 
Keys to Victory
Keep the Offense Going
• The Grizzlies have been solid of offense for most of the year, scoring 20 runs in the series last week.
• If Nico Nintze can keep up the pace he's been on he will be a key to securing the win.
• The lineup will also look to rely on Logan Bistrup and Jared gay as the duo are both batting over .300.
 
Tighten up the Defense
• The Grizzlies committed 23 errors on defense last week in the four game series
• Being able to cut that number down drastically will be very important to finding that first win of the season.
 
Up Next
• The Grizzlies come back to Alamosa after a bye week and will host Dixie State to open the year at home.
• It will three game series with a double-header on Saturday and a single game on Sunday
• First pitch for Saturday's doubleheader are set for 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., respectively. Sunday's game will start at 11 a.m.