Eastern New Mexico box score
East Central box score

Hanna Dodson picked a good time to pitch her best game of the year as she gave up just two hits and didn't walk a batter as the University of Texas of the Permian Basin defeated East Central 1-0 in the Black and Orange Tournament. In their first game of the tournament, the Falcons lost a 6-5 heartbreaker in nine innings to Eastern New Mexico.

Dodson carried a perfect game into the sixth inning before Whitney Harris doubled to left field to break up the no-hitter. She would later give up a single to Desiree' Nordie in the seventh before Emily Kennemer hit into a double play to end the game.

Dodson went the distance, striking out one to pick up her first win of the year, and handing the Tigers their second loss this season.

Nearly all of the action happened in the bottom of the first inning when Alisha Carrasco beat out a bunt-single, but an errant throw by Briana Baron ended up in the right field corner, allowing Carrasco to come around to score giving the Falcons a 1-0 lead. The run proved to be enough as Dodson retired 15-straight, helping UTPB improve to 6-11 on the season.

In the first game, Carrasco started the rally once again as she led off the game with a bunt single before stealing second and eventually advancing to third on a wild pitch. Angel Castro laid down a sacrifice bunt driving in Carrasco, giving the Falcons a 1-0 edge.

The lead would not last long as Eastern New Mexico answered with two runs in the second thanks to a double down the left field line by Tessa Fioritti, plating Melanie Alderette and Emily Livingston who reached on walks.

The Zias would extend their lead to 4-1 in the fifth inning after scoring two runs with two outs in the frame. The Falcons would have come away unscathed, but a UTPB error allowed the inning to continue, giving the Zias two unearned runs.

Down to their last at-bat, Castro led off the inning with a single down the left field line before Courtney Cernoch doubled to left, moving Castro to third. Erica Rangel reached on a fielder's choice allowing Castro to score, cutting the lead to 4-3. Rangel would advance to second on a passed ball before Whitney Kuhrt hit an infield single putting runners on first and third. A groundout by Cene Padilla allowed Rangel to score from third and tying the game at four.

The score would remain that way until the Falcons, who were the visiting team, started the inning with a runner on second due to the international tie-break rule. With Tomie Ellard on second base, a single by Castro moved her to third before the two pulled off a double steal. Castro bolted for second before Ellard stole home after Zia catcher Morgan Miller attempted to throw out Castro. Both runners were safe, giving UTPB a 5-4 lead, but were unable to keep the rally alive after two-straight ground outs ended the top half of the ninth.

Emily Livingston was placed on second base in the bottom of the ninth and would later move to third on a fielder's choice sacrifice bunt by Melanie Alderette, who would eventually steal second. UTPB picked up two quick outs thanks to a fly out by Fioritti and a strikeout by Paige Colburn. Taylor Howard hit a pop up which looked to end the inning, but the ball was dropped allowing both runners to score and ending the game.

The Falcons out-hit Eastern New Mexico 12-6, but four errors by UTPB led to its own destruction.

UTPB will face both teams tomorrow afternoon at the UTPB softball fields.