ODESSA, Texas – Adams State Baseball played the first of a three game set against UT Permian Basin Falcons on Sunday afternoon. The first game was a pitching and defensive game but in the end saw the Grizzlies (2-11) get their first win of the year over the Falcons (5-4) with a 2-0 victory.

Both teams stayed scoreless as Ivan Thomas for the Falcons and Troy Gutbub for the Grizzlies, who came into replace Daniel Brennan both started the game very well. Neither pitcher allowed a hit until the fourth inning when Orlando Romero got a single in an attempt to jumpstart the offense.

In the top of the fifth the double zeroes on the scoreboard was broken as Adams State was able to get on the board. Dakota Solis was able to reach on a single but was then was thrown out on Jake Angelopulos sacrifice bunt attempt. Erik Hildebrandt was able to come through for the Grizzlies as he drove a double down the left field line to drive in Angelopulos.

In the top of the sixth the Grizzlies were able get the second run on the board after Billy Ryan was able to get on base and advance to second on a Patrick Huffaker single. Dakota Solis singled to left field with two runners on and drove in Ryan for the second run of the game.

The Grizzlies pitching held up in the next two innings and Adams State was able to celebrate its first win of the season.

Dakota Solis led Adams State with two hits and one RBI, Erik Hildebrandt also had one hit and one RBI. Troy Gutbub moved to (1-1) on the season for the Grizzlies with 6.0 innings pitched and 10 strikeouts in his best performance of the season.

The Falcons were held to one hit in the game which came off the bat of Andrew Donovan. Ivan Thomas moved to (1-1) on the season pitching 4.1 innings with seven strikeouts in the game.
 

Adams State was able to keep the positive momentum from the game one win and turn that into another victory in game two with a six run outburst in the fourth inning to help the Grizzlies pull away and get their second win on the season.

The bottom of the first saw the Grizzlies get down early as Tylor Frailey hit a home run down the right field line on the first pitch that he saw from David Maldonado to give the Falcons a one run lead.

Adams State was kept quiet through three innings as they were not able to score, that all changed in the fourth inning as the bats came alive to the tune of six runs on four hits. Nico Nintze started it off with a single through the right side and a stolen base. Logan Bistrup then smoked a triple to center field to drive Nintze in to tie the game. Orlando Romero then doubled to center field to drive in Bistrup.

With the bases loaded the Grizzlies were able to bring two more runs across on defensive miscues by the Falcons as Dakota Solis reached on an error by the shortstop which scored a run, following that a wild pitch scored Noah Befus. Erik Hildebrandt capped the scored by driving in two more with a single to right field.

The Grizzlies brought one more run in with a Logan Bistrup sacrifice fly in the top of the sixth to make the score 7-1.

UT Permian Basin made a comeback attempt in the bottom of the seventh as they brought four runs across to score. Tylor Frailey hit a single to left field to bring in the first run of the inning, Tyler Vlasek then reached on an error bringing Frailey in for the second run of the game. William Bierlein single to center field to bring in Vlasek, Dalton Castillo doubled down the right field line to bring in Bierlein and bring the score to 8-5.

The Grizzlies were able to score an insurance run in the top of the ninth as Billy Ryan singled to right field to score Jared Gay and increase the lead to three runs which is where it stayed as the Falcons were only able to get one hit in the ninth inning and the Grizzlies secured their second win of the season.

The big offensive game was led by Erik Hildebrandt and Logan Bistrup for the Grizzlies as they both had two hits and two RBI. Dakota Solis scored two runs in the effort along with one RBI. David Maldonado moved to (1-3) on the season as he threw 6.2 solid innings for the Grizzlies. Dalton Carleo secured his first save of the season as he threw 1.0 inning and had two strikeouts.

Tylor Frailey led the Falcons on offense as he had two hits, two RBI and a home run, Pemron Burrows also had three hits in the losing effort. Alex Rivera fell to (0-1) on the season as he only lasted 3.1 innings with five strikeouts.

The Grizzlies and Falcons are back in action on Monday, Feb. 25 for the last game of the series. First pitch will be at 11 a.m.