SAN ANGELO – Freshman
Desiree Valero improved to 3-0 on the year as she allowed just three hits and one run in the Falcons' 4-1 win over Washburn in the first game of the ASU Blue Gold Classic. In the second game of the tournament the University of Texas of the Permian Basin fell to No. 8 Angelo State 4-2.
In the Washburn game, Valero struck out seven and walked just two while UTPB had eight hits, including 2-for-3 performances by Whitney Kuhrt and Cene Padilla.
UTPB set the tone early with two runs in the top of the first thanks to a two-run double by Erica Rangel, driving in Alisha Carrasco and Kurht, who led off with singles. The Falcons would extend their lead to 3-0 after the top of the second after a throwing error by Washburn on an attempted stolen base.
The score would remain that way until the top of the sixth when Angel Castro grounded to second base, but drove in Kurht, who led off the inning with an infield single. Washburn broke up the shutout in the bottom of the sixth on a run scoring single, but Valero would close the door in the bottom of the seventh to even UTPB's record to 3-3 on the year.
In the Angelo State game, the Rambelles struck first with a pair of runs in the top of the first before the Falcons cut the gap in half with a run in the second. Rangel led off the frame with a double down the right field line before Kristy Leal singled to right sending Rangel to third, but she would score on an error by Anna Wilheim in right field.
The Rambelles tacked on single runs in the fourth and fifth before UTPB struck again when Rangel singled to right to score Kuhrt, who reached on a fielder's choice. The Falcons had five hits in the game, two by Rangel, who also had the lone RBI.
The Falcons, now 3-4 on the year, will remain on the road next weekend when they play in the Southeastern Shootout hosted by Southeastern Oklahoma. They will take on Southeastern Oklahoma and Central Missouri on Friday, followed by Missouri Western and Nebraska-Omaha tilts on Saturday. UTPB will conclude the event with matchups against Henderson State and Ouachita Baptist.
