UTPB softball kicked off its 2014 home slate Tuesday afternoon with a pair of 3-0 and 8-1 victories against University of the Southwest in Odessa.
The Falcons got in the drivers seat right away in the first game of the day, scoring three runs in their first trip to the plate. Jennifer Quam scored from third after reaching on an HBP, stealing second and moving to third on a wild pitch when
Niki DiSera reached on a ground ball that was bobbled at first. She and
Nikki Brailsford came in to score later in the inning when
Anna Hollingsworth doubled down the right field line with the bases loaded to add a pair of runs and lead 3-0.
Desiree Valero took the three-run lead and ran with it, limiting Mustangs to just three hits with no walks and six strikeouts to earn her first win of the season in the seven inning shutout.
UTPB put up larger offensive numbers in game two after scoring three runs again in the bottom of the fourth, getting an RBI infield single from
Aurora Burks with three runners on to score DiSera, and
Miley McKee followed with a single to right field to score two.
The Falcons answered a run from the Mustangs in the top of the second with three more runs in the third on back-to-back extra base hits.
Taylor Clancy doulbed to center to drive home McKee, and Quam tripled to left to plate
Holly Herrington and Clancy as the Falcons went on top 6-1.
Anna Hollingsworth homered with the bases empty in the bottom of the fifth, her second long ball of the season, and Quam singled up the middle later in the fifth to score Clancy to give the Falcons an 8-1 lead.
Herrington improved to 2-3 on the year in throwing the first five innings of the victory. She gave up one run off of three hits and a walk with five strikeouts.
Marissa Steele threw the final six outs of the game, striking out a pair without allowing a hit or walk.
Quam led all Falcons with three hits, a walk and three RBI at the top of the order. McKee drove in two in the second game of the day and Clancy scored twice off of a pair of hits.
UTPB is back at home tomorrow night, hosting Incarnate Word for two games Wednesday starting at 4 p.m.
