UIW box score
Eastern New Mexico box score
 
SAN ANTONIO – The University of Texas of the Permian Basin softball team, under the direction of first-year coach Annalyn Burch, opened the 2012 season with a pair of losses at the St. Mary's Collegiate Invitational. 
 
The Falcons dropped a 5-4 nine-inning heartbreaker to Incarnate Word in the first game before Eastern New Mexico handed UTPB a 4-1 setback in the second game.  The Falcons picked up a combined 10 hits in the two contests, but five errors, including a fielding miscue in the bottom of the ninth in the Incarnate Word game, led to their demise. 
 
In the first game, Leslie Ericson scored two of the Falcons' runs, including a solo homer in the top of third inning, which gave UTPB a 4-1 advantage.  Their bats came alive in the top of the second as UTPB picked up two of its four hits on the game in the frame.  Ericson started the rally with a one-out walk before Kati Walker moved her to second after reaching on a bunt single.  Lucero Porras loaded the bases after being hit by a pitch, making the way for Whitney Kuhrt to single to left which brought in Ericson for the first run of the game.  Chelsey Morgan kept the rally alive with a bases-loaded walk before Tieifa Dueberry brought in Porras with a fielder's choice. 
 
Incarnate Word cut into the Falcons' lead with a single run in the bottom of the second before Ericson hit a solo homer down the left field line to give UTPB a 4-1 lead.  The Cardinals would cut the lead in half with another run in the bottom of the third before tying up the game in the fourth with two runs. 
 
The Falcons had their chances to score in the eighth and ninth innings, stranding four runners – two in each inning, but were left scoreless on both occasions.  The Cardinals on the other hand, left the bases loaded in the eighth before a two-out error by the Falcons gave them the victory. 
 
In the second game, Eastern New Mexico put up three runs in the top of the third and one more in the fourth which proved to be enough for the victory.  UTPB finished with six hits in the game with Dueberry picking up two, including a double. 
 
The Falcons will look to bounce back tomorrow when they face Cameron and Texas A&M-Kingsville at 10 a.m. and noon.