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UTPB softball finished Saturday's season-opening doubleheader against Northwestern Oklahoma State on the short end of both games, falling 3-1 and 4-3 Saturday afternoon at the UTPB Softball Field.

The Falcons and Rangers played scoreless through six innings in the first game of the year for both teams. Northwestern Oklahoma State struck first in its half of the seventh, scoring twice on a single with a pair on. The Rangers added a third run on a hit by pitch with the bases loaded.

UTPB came back with three hits in the bottom half of the inning, the third coming from Irene Valdez on a single with a pair of runners on base to score Chelsae Farries. The Falcons were able to bring the winning run to the plate with two outs, but left both baserunners stranded to end the two-run loss.

Holly Herrington took the loss for UTPB, giving up four hits and six walks while striking out three with three unearned runs allowed.

UTPB came out and scored first in game two, taking a 1-0 lead when Valdez led off the bottom of the first with a base hit, stole second and scored on a sac bunt after having been moved to third.

The Falcons added two more an inning later, scoring twice on a single from Niki DiSera to drive in Aurora Burks and a base hit from Ashlynn Williams to drive home DiSera for a 3-0 lead.

NWOSU came back with a four-run top of the fifth, taking advantage of three UTPB errors to go with three hits to claim its first lead of game two.

The Falcons had a chacne to tie in its last trip to the plate in the seventh after back-to-back singles from Williams and Valdez with one out, but UTPB was kept off the scoreboard after a pair of infield outs ended any chance at a comeback.

Ferries struck out eight in the circle in game two, allowing four runs (two earned) on five hits while not giving up a walk.

The Falcons are back home this week, taking on University of the Southwest in a Tuesday afternoon doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.