ENMU box score
West Texas A&M box score
Southwestern Oklahoma box score
 
CANYON – Even though the Falcons didn't come away with a victory in the first day of the West Texas A&M Classic, they did however, show promise as they pushed No. 5 West Texas A&M, falling 8-6.  UTPB opened the tournament with a 9-2 setback to Eastern New Mexico as well as a 3-0 loss to Southwestern Oklahoma. 
 
The Falcons pounded out 22 hits in the three games, including nine against West Texas A&M, but did leave 18 runners on base – something that has been a thorn in head coach Annalyn Burch's side thus far. 
 
In the first game against Eastern New Mexico, the Zias scored early and often, putting up at least one run in all but the seventh inning.  The Falcons did rack up eight hits with Whitney Khurt, Courtney Cernoch and Anna Hollingsworth picking up two each. 
 
Tieifa Dueberry hit her first home run of the season in the bottom of the fourth inning to score Leslie Ericson, who led off the inning with a walk.  The momentum would stop there for UTPB, as it would not score again. 
 
In the second contest of the day, West Texas A&M led off the bottom of the first inning with a home run over the left field fence, but the Falcons countered with a run in the top of the second to tie it at one.  Dueberry led off the frame with an infield single before Ericson singled down the right field line to move Dueberry to third after a West Texas error.  A groundout by Katelyn Stanley would eventually score Dueberry to tie the game at one. 
 
West Texas would answer with a run in the second to take a 2-1 lead before scoring two more in the third to go up 4-1.  The sixth inning saw UTPB pick up two more runs, including an RBI single by Cernoch, and a foul out to left by Hollingsworth, which was deep enough to plate Cernoch. 
 
Each time the Falcons threatened to take the lead, the Buffaloes pulled away, which was the case in the sixth as they scored four more runs in the bottom of the frame.  The scoring surge didn't faze the Falcons as they had a scoring burst of their own, plating three runs in the top of the seventh thanks to a three-run homer by Chelsey Morgan. 
 
In the third and final game of the day, pitcher Desiree Valero tossed 4.1 innings in relief where she gave up just two hits without a run while striking out six.  Before Valero came in, Southwestern Oklahoma scored three runs which proved to be the difference as the Falcons were shut out for the first time this season. 
 
The second day of the tournament was cancelled due to inclement weather, so the Falcons will look for their first win of the season next weekend when they head to Durant, Okla. to compete in the Southeastern Oklahoma tournament.