In a game where The University of Texas of the Permian Basin had to win, its defense committed a total of 11 errors in two contests, including eight in the first as Texas A&M International swept the Falcons.
The Falcons, who went into the last conference game of the season one game ahead of Newman in the league standings, needed a win over the Dustdevils and a Newman loss to earn a berth into the upcoming Heartland Conference Tournament. UTPB will have to wait until next year as A&M International won the third and deciding game 7-3, while Newman swept Panhandle State.
The Dustdevils took advantage of the numerous Falcon miscues by scoring two in the top of the second. UTPB committed five of the eight errors in the first three innings, including three in the outfield.
The Falcons kept the game close in the third when
Alisha Carrasco ended up on third base after an infield single and a throwing error with one out. She would later cross home plate when
Tomie Ellard hit a sacrifice but to put UTPB on the board.
A&M International added to its lead in the fourth with a pair of runs – both unearned thanks to another UTPB error. Falcon starter
Desiree Valero pitched all seven innings giving up two earned runs off nine hits while striking out four.
UTPB answered in the bottom of the fourth after
Chelsey Morgan hit a two-run single to right to plate
Tieifa Dueberry and
Courtney Cernoch. The momentum would not last long as the Dustdevils scored single runs in the final three innings to ruin any chance of post season play for UTPB.
In the second game,
Kristine Samaniego hit a three-run blast in the third, but a four-run first inning by TAMIU proved to be enough for starter Marina Vasquez, who gave up three runs off four hits.
UTPB moved to 18-27 on the year and finished conference play with a 5-10 mark. They will close out the season on Thursday when Incarnate Words comes to Odessa for a non-conference doubleheader.
