MIDLAND, Texas (April 10, 2021) – Oklahoma Christian's usually potent offense – mostly dormant after a three-run first inning – sprung back to form in the ninth inning on Saturday night, but it wasn't quite enough to keep the Eagles' winning streak alive.

Texas-Permian Basin jumped ahead in the second inning and held the lead the rest of the way, holding off OC's late rally to win 7-5 at Momentum Bank Park, the home of the Double-A Midland RockHounds. The loss ended OC's run of consecutive wins at eight games, which had matched its longest since the 2014 baseball season.

With the loss, OC (16-10, 14-9 Lone Star Conference) slipped back behind Texas A&M-Kingsville (14-8, 13-8) by percentage points in the race for fourth place in the LSC standings. The top four eligible teams in the final regular-season standings will host first-round series in the league's postseason tournament.

UTPB (11-14, 8-12) is in position for the eighth and final spot in the LSC tournament, just percentage points ahead of St. Edward's (Texas).

OC, which scored 23 runs while winning the series opener on Friday, started fast again, jumping ahead 3-0 in the first inning thanks to a run-scoring single by Chance Westervelt and a two-run single up the middle by Coleton Hinkle.

But the Eagles managed only three hits and one run over the next seven innings against UTPB pitchers Jake Rohde and Travis Stone (1-3) and the Falcons took advantage.

They tied the game in the bottom of the first inning on a three-run double by Nick Hernandez off OC starter Jacob Mattox and took the lead with two runs in the second off OC reliever Ty Dudley (0-3), one scoring on a sacrifice fly by Hernandez.

OC pulled within 5-4 in the fifth, when Grant Lake scored on a two-out throwing error, but didn't threaten again until the ninth inning. The Eagles loaded the bases with no outs on a walk and singles by Tanner White and Errett Edwards and Westervelt scored on a one-out sacrifice fly by Jaren Hill to make it 7-5.

Cole Lee drew a walk from Stone to again load the bases, but Stone coaxed a fly ball out of Kevin Collyar to end the game.

The rubber match of the three-game series will be played at 1 p.m. Sunday.