Box Score - Game 1 | Box Score - Game 2


The University of Texas of the Permian Basin softball team hung around with one of the top teams in the nation Saturday afternoon, dropping the first of two games 6-4 against #3 West Texas A&M before a 10-2 defeat to the Lady Buffs at Schaeffer Park in Canyon, Texas.

UTPB took the lead in game one, scoring the first run of the game in the top of the third on an Amber Gutierrez home run that led off the inning.

WTAMU used a home run of its own in the bottom half of the inning to claim the lead, getting a three-run jack by Jessica Sipe with one out in the bottom of the third to jump ahead 3-1.

The Lady Buffs added two more runs to their total in the bottom of the fourth on their second home run of the day as Alyssa Lemos hit a two-run home run with two outs to claim a 5-1 advantage.

UTPB was able to pull back to within a run in the top of the sixth on the game's fourth home run of the day. Anna Hollingsworth drew a lead-off walk to start the frame and was joined on base as Nikki Brailsford walked to put a pair of runners on with nobody out. Following a pair of outs, Taleas Marble cleared the bases with a three run homer to left to leave the Falcons trailing 5-4.

West Texas A&M scored and insurance run in the bottom of the sixth with its third home run of the day, the second of the game by Lemos to lead 6-4.

Desiree Valero took the loss for UTPB, throwing all six innings and allowing six runs on eight hits and three walks. She struck out seven in the outing, including striking out the side in the bottom of the first and getting a pair of strikeouts that helped to get her out of a jam that left two runners on base.

Trailing 4-0 after the first inning in the second game, UTPB cut the lead in half in the top of the second with a pair of runs. Marble drew a one out walk and moved into scoring position as a Brailsford single advanced her to second. Jackie Guzman followed with an infield single and a throwing error by the second baseman moved Brailsford to third and scored Marble. Brailsford scored two batters later on Lesli Ericson's single through the right side of the infield with two outs to cut the lead to 4-2.

Two runs was as close as the Falcons could get in the game, as the Lady Buffs added runs in each of the second, third fifth and sixth innings.

The Falcons are back in action Tuesday afternoon for their first home games of 2013. First pitch against Angelo State is scheduled for 2 p.m.