UT Permian Basin softball kicked off its 2019 season Friday with a pair of games at the Taj Hospitality College Softball Classic, splitting with a 5-2 win over Chadron State before suffering a 10-2 loss against Lubbock Christian in Lubbock, Texas.
UTPB grabbed the first lead of the opener against Chadron State, scoring a pair of runs in the bottom of the third to take a 2-0 lead.
Alyssa Lopez scored the first on a wild pitch to walk home from third, and
Abby Hernandez later crossed home on a triple by
Jessica Gonzales.
The Falcons added a run in the bottom of the fifth to go ahead 3-0 on a single by
Kayla Martin that drove in
Valerie Gonzalez.
After Chadron State grabbed a couple of runs in the top of the sixth to make it a one-run game, the Falcons answered in their half of the frame when a single by
Valerie Gonzalez drove in Nyeli Diaz and Lopez to claim the runs back and restore the three run lead.
Sloan Springfield picked up the win for the Falcons, throwing 5.2 innings of two run ball. She allowed five hits and a walk while striking out one in earning the decision.Â
Maritza Rojas earned her first save of the season. She gave up a hit and a walk while striking out a pair in recording the final four outs of the game.
Valerie Gonzalez led the Falcon offense out of the leadoff spot, collecting a pair of hits, two walks, two RBI and a run scored while Lopez scored twice in the game.
The Falcons grabbed the early lead in game two of the doubleheader against Lubbock Christian, going on top 1-0 against the Lady Chaps when Lopez singled in
Courtney Cagle in the op of the second.
Lopez later added another run in the top of the fourth, scoring on a ground out by Savana Medina to double the Falcon advantage to 2-0.
Lubbock Christian broke out the offense in the bottom half of their fourth, scoring nine runs in the frame to take a commanding 9-2 lead before taking the decision 10-2 after five innings.
The Falcons are back in Lubbock with a pair of games starting Saturday morning. The Falcons take on Southern Nazarene at 11 a.m. before a game against Oklahoma Christian at 1:30 p.m.
