ODESSA, Texas – UT Permian Basin hit a walk-off, two-run homer to defeat University of Arkansas – Fort Smith Baseball, 10-8, in the series opener Friday at Roden Field.

A high scoring first five innings, neither team was able to break the 8-8 tie from the sixth through eighth innings. Jakob Petross retired the first batter of the bottom of the ninth before the next batter singled followed by the pinch-hit, two-run homer.

UAFS scored five times in the first inning on just one hit, using the aid of five walks, two hit by pitches, a wild pitch and an error. Third baseman Brooks Sunny delivered the big hit of the inning, a two-run double to right.

On a windy day, however, the Falcons answered back with two runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning, which ended with an outfield assist by Kinner Brasher to throw a runner out at the plate.

The Falcons then had a five-run inning in the second and added another in the third for an 8-5 lead. The Falcons would then be held off the scoreboard for the next five innings thanks to a strong relief effort from Dylan Parham. Parham allowed just one run on five hits with four strikeouts over 4.1 innings.

UAFS got two runs back in the fourth, with first baseman Nolan Riley scoring on a throwing error and Sunny later scoring on an RBI single by Brasher.

The Lions tied the game in the fifth on a balk after a hit by pitch and two walks loaded the bases. They drew 11 walks in the game but left 14 runners on base.

Sunny finished the day at the plate 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs. Riley went 1-for-1 with four walks and two runs scored, while shortstop Noah Davis was 2-for-5 with a run scored.

The series continues Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.