UT Permian Basin softball returns to Lubbock for the second straight weekend to open the 2019 season Sunday when the Falcons head to the LCU Invitational. Due to weather, this weekend's schedule has been condensed, and the Falcons will now play just two games on Sunday. The Falcons take on host Lubbock Christian at 5 p.m., followed immediately with a game against Colorado Colorado Springs at 7 p.m.

UTPB kicked off their campaign last week by going 1-3 at the TAJ Hospitality College Softball Kickoff. Sloan Springfield picked up the win in the opener, holding Chadron State to a pair of runs off of five hits and a walk in 5.2 innings pitched in the team's 5-2 victory.

Valerie Gonzalez had a big opening weekend in her first time in the Falcon orange and black. She led the team hitting .455 with five hits and three RBI, also reaching on three walks  in 14 plate appearances. Alyssa Lopez started her junior season hitting .429 with a team-high three runs while going a perfect 3-3 in stolen bases.

"Overall last weekend was a good weekend. Our hitters were able to get runners on, we just struggled in being able to bring them home," said head coach Tiala Tagaloa.  "That's been an emphasis in practice, putting ourselves in pressure situations so we can be more successful. Defensively I think we did well. In the circle we struggled a little but they've been working hard to combat that."

The Falcons will be tested with a couple of tough games Sunday night . Lubbock Christian enters the weekend after a 4-1 start at home last week, including a 10-2 win against UTPB. The Falcons held a 1-0 lead after the top of the 2nd, and doubled their lead with another run in the 4th, but the Lady Chaps took over with a big bottom of the fourth, scoring nine runs in the frame in their season opener.

Colorado Colorado Springs split in its opening weekend at the MSU Denver Invite. The Cougars split with both MSU Denver and Sioux Falls, winning 6-5 against MSU Denver before getting shut out 8-0 to end the weekend while rebounding after a 7-2 loss to Sioux Falls to defeat them 13-2.

With a tough and competitive schedule the first three weeks of non-conference play before the Falcons enter Lone Star Conference action, Tagaloa is ready to see the team continue to build momentum this weekend.

"I want to see growth. Over the first three weeks we're using this time to get our feet under us before we get started with conference play."