A return to the friendly confines of the Permian Basin is just what UT Permian Basin Softball needed to get their bats back on track Friday. The Falcons had 20 hits and plated 16 runs as they climbed out of an early 8-0 deficit to defeat Arlington Baptist.
Julia Bumford continued her hot hitting with three hits and four RBI while
Valerie Gonzalez,
Aracely Araiza, and
Mia Quintero also had three hits each.
Ashlynn Bradley was a perfect 4-for-4 with a pair of RBI and two doubles in the win.
The Patriots shot out of the gates and took an 8-0 lead heading into the bottom of the third. There the Falcons got a rally going after a single by Gonzalez and
Aubree Beggs reached on an error. Araiza doubled to bring home a run and Bumford followed with a double for two more. Three batters later, Bradley doubled with two outs to cut the deficit to three. The Falcons scored answered a Patriot run in the fourth on a bunt single by Gonzalez where
Leslie Martinez scored after a run down and some heads up base running.
The Patriots wouldn't go away and led by 11-6 heading into the bottom of the fifth. Bradley doubled to get things going and came around to score on a two-out single by Martinez. After she advanced on a wild pitch, a single by Gonzalez drove her in to make it 11-8.
The floodgates opened in the sixth as the Falcons plated eight runs on seven hits. Quintero singled home a pair and advanced to second with nobody out. Trailing by one,
Sydney Bishop singled her home to tie the score. The Falcons loaded the bases with no outs, but the Patriots got a line out and force at home bringing up Beggs with two outs. She laid down a perfect bunt and just beat the throw to take the lead. Heads up base running by Bradley brought her in on the play and up the team up two. Araiza reached on an error by the shortstop to score Gonzalez before Bumford singled home a pair to go up 16-11.
Abby Cousins pitched a clean seventh and was helped out by a diving catch in right field by Martinez to end the game.
Cousins picked up her first win of the year going 5.0 innings and striking out five on just 59 pitches.
The Falcons and Patriots will be back in action tomorrow with a doubleheader starting at noon. Download the UTPB Athletics App to follow the team all season long.
