ODESSA, Texas - Adams State Baseball completed its series sweep of UT Permian Basin on the road Monday afternoon with a 5-3 win. The Grizzlies scored three runs in the eighth to secure a 5-3 road win.
The Grizzlies (3-11) produced their five runs on four hits and had two errors on the afternoon. The Falcons (5-5) had more hits with 10 for the game but had just three runs scored and also tallied two errors to drop the finale.
The Falcons started the game working a 1-2-3 first inning to build some early defensive momentum. They got two runners on base to start the bottom of the inning on a leadoff walk and a bunt single. The Grizzlies left both stranded as the home team lined into a double play before starting pitcher Jamison Fuentes caught the batter looking to end the inning.
UT Permian Basin worked the middle the Adams State batting order with ease as they went three up, three down for the second straight inning. Despite the solid start on defense, UT Permian Basin was not able to translate it to offense.
The Falcons managed to produce a pair of hits in the bottom of the second but quick reactions and solid fielding play from the Grizzlies left the game scoreless going into the third inning.
The Grizzlies produced the game's first run in the top of the third on a two-out rally to put themselves in the driver seat. Dakota Solis got on base with a walk and got to second after Paul Giglio was hit by pitch. Erik Hildebrandt plated Solis home with a RBI single to deep center field before the Falcons closed out the top of the frame.
Defense held strong for the Grizzlies as they did not allow a hit in the bottom of the third to maintain a one-run lead. The Falcons kept the Grizzlies from building any offensive momentum in the as they once again produced a 1-2-3 inning.
The first of two Adams State errors came in the bottom of the fourth but it did not hurt the team as they held the Falcons yet again to stay out in front. Defense stayed strong for the home team as they retired three straight to start the fifth.
The bottom of the fifth saw the Falcons tie the game as they finally got a run of the Grizzlies stifling defense. A pair of hits and a sacrifice bunt help the Falcons score their one run. That's all the Grizzlies allowed as they still left a pair of runners stranded to keep the game knotted at 1-1.
The sixth inning did not fall in either team's favor as they both went scoreless and did not produce a single hit. The Grizzlies had their second error come in the bottom of the inning but the mistake was not costly once again.
A one-run top of the seventh inning gave the lead back to the Grizzlies. Helping the Grizzlies retake the lead was a Falcon error that led to the unearned run. Following a leadoff walk on Orlando Romero, Tyler Erzen replaced him as the pinch runner. Erzen scored two batters later after a fielder's choice that got him to third and a throwing error allowed him to cross home plate.
Following a scoreless bottom of the seventh, the Grizzlies then scored three runs on two hits and a Falcons error to jump up to a lead. Nico Nintze led off with a single and a hit by pitch on Jared Gay got him to second. The Falcons then committed the error on a sacrifice bunt that brought Nintze home.
Gay scored the second run after a wild pitch got him home and advanced Logan Bistrup to third. Billy Ryan plated home the final run for the Grizzlies with a RBI double down the left field line to score Bistrup.
The Falcons rallied in the bottom of the eight to keep the game interesting. They produced a pair of runs on two doubles and a single to get back within two runs. They worked a 1-2-3 inning to start the ninth but the Grizzlies eighth inning rally wa sthe better of the two as they secured the two-run road win.
Four Grizzlies each produced a hit in the win in Hildebrandt, Nintze, Ryan, and Solis. Both Hildebrandt and Ryan had a RBI each. Solis, Nintze, Bistrup, and Gay all had a run scored, respectively. Trent Hughes picked up the win in a relief effort to move to 1-1 on the mound. Fuentes started the game, pitching three complete inning and striking out four batters.
Jonathan Bermudez went a perfect 3-3 with a run scored and a RBI to lead UT Permian Basin. Gabriel Melendez also had a RBI and scored a run while going 2-4. Tanner Rhodes suffered the loss to move to 1-2 after working 1.1 innings and giving up one run. Joshua Gonzalez had the most strikeouts with three in three innings pitched.
The Grizzlies will have this coming weekend off before returning to the diamond. Their next series will be March 8-10 as they will host the Dixie State Trailblazers for their 2019 home opener to start RMAC play.
