The Odessa College baseball team ended up splitting the first two games of its series against Midland College Friday at Wrangler Ballpark.
Beginning Western Junior College Athletic Conference play, the Chaparrals won the first game 7-6 before the Wranglers won by the exact same score in the second game to split the doubleheader.
Both teams will conclude the four-game series on Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at noon at Christensen Stadium in Midland.
The Wranglers improved to 9-7 overall, 1-1 in WJCAC.
The Chaparrals moved to 17-3, 1-1.
In the first game, Midland College never trailed as the Chaparrals took a 1-0 lead in the second inning before making it 2-0 in the top of the fourth.
The Chaparrals scored four runs in the seventh to make it 6-0.
However, the Wranglers managed to respond with a six-run surge in the bottom half of the seventh to tie everything up.
Midland College was able to score in the eighth and the Wranglers couldn’t respond as the Chaparrals denied Odessa College the comeback win.
Both teams finished with 10 hits while the Chaparrals had two errors. Odessa College had no errors.
Aiden Cline took the win on the mound for the Chaparrals.
In the second game, Odessa College responded with a four-run first inning to take an early advantage.
Midland College gradually answered back, however, and the Wranglers entered the bottom of the seventh trailing 6-5.
Two runs from the Wranglers gave Odessa College the one-run victory and their first in conference play.
Midland College finished with 10 hits and no errors while Odessa College had nine hits and one error.
Both teams will resume their series on Saturday.
Next week, the Wranglers will be on the road at New Mexico Military Institute, beginning with a doubleheader at 1 p.m. March 14 and the series concluding the following day.
Odessa College’s next home game will be against Clarendon College at noon March 21.
