game one 
game two
 
PORTALES, N. M. – The University of Texas of the Permian Basin softball team had their hitting shoes on as the Falcons racked up 23 runs and 30 hits as they swept a double header from Eastern New Mexico.  UTPB took the first game 8-5 before taking the nightcap 15-9, winning its first run-ruled game of the season.
 
Eight different players picked up at least two hits in one of the games, while Chelsey Morgan, Anna Hollingsworth, Katelyn Stanley and Kati Walker tallied four hits on the afternoon, including three in one game.  Walker was a one-person wrecking crew as she went 3-for-3 with four RBI in the second contest of the day. 
 
In the opener, UTPB starter Desiree Valero kept the Zia bats at bay by allowing just one earned run while striking out a season-high nine batters.  Stanley put the Falcons on the board in the top of the first inning when she hit a double to left center to score Chelsey Morgan, who reached on a fielder's choice. 
 
The Zias tied the game in the bottom of the second after Elizabeth Velasquez hit a two-out RBI single to right to score Aurelia Sandoval. 
 
The score would stay that way until Cene Padilla and Tieifa Dueberry both hit run-scoring singles, giving the Falcons a 3-1 edge.  Just when the Falcons thought they had the momentum, Eastern New Mexico busted out with four runs in the bottom of the inning giving it a 5-3 advantage.  The Zias picked up two hits in the inning and took advantage of two fielding errors by the Falcons. 
 
UTPB returned the favor in the sixth after scoring three runs off three hits, including a run-scoring double by Morgan to score Whitney Khurt, who reached on an error.  Stanley would give the Falcons a 6-5 lead after driving in Morgan on a fielder's choice. 
 
The Falcons would not lose the lead the rest of the way and added to it with two more runs in the top of the seventh to seal the victory. 
 
The second game saw the Falcons pound out 15 more hits with Hollingsworth, Walker and Lucero Porras each tallying three in the win.  UTPB set the tone early with four runs in the top of the first thanks to four hits and a fielding error by the Zias. 
 
UTPB quickly made it 12-0 after scoring a season-high eight runs in the second after Walker, Leslie Ericson and Khurt each had two RBI. 
 
Eastern New Mexico had two big innings, scoring four in the second and five more in the fifth but never threatened as the Falcons improved to 6-16 on the year. 
 
The Falcons will finally get a break and will be idle until March 7 when they host their first home game of the season.  UTPB will take on Eastern New Mexico in a double header starting at 2 p.m. on the UTPB softball field.