Pitching proved to be a strong suit again for UT Permian Basin in Sunday's softball doubleheader against Eastern New Mexico. The Falcons allowed just five runs in two games, sweeping the Greyhounds 4-1 and 6-4 in Odessa.
 
Becky Berth followed Friday's phenomenal performance versus West Texas A&M with another masterful outing on Sunday. The Oconto, Wis., product earned the complete game victory, striking out four and surrendering just one earned run in seven innings. The win improved Berth's season record to 5-9.
 
A Julia Bumford single drove in Valerie Gonzalez to give UTPB a 1-0 advantage in the first inning. After Eastern New Mexico tied it with a run of their own in the third, the Falcons plated three runs in the bottom of the fifth, thanks to a two-run double by Aracely Araiza and an RBI two-bagger from Leslie Martinez, to retake the lead. Berth held the Greyhounds scoreless over the final four innings, helping UT Permian Basin score a 4-1 win in the series opener.
 
Gonzalez (2-4, 2 R) had the only multi-hit performance of Game 1. Araiza (1-3, 2B, 2 RBI, R) and Martinez (1-2, 2B, RBI) had one double each while Bumford (1-3, RBI) and Emily Andress (1-2, R) also reached safely in the win.
 
Destini Trahan started the second game of Saturday's Lone Star Conference doubleheader. As usual, the junior right-hander was solid in the circle, tallying two strikeouts and allowing four runs in seven innings pitched.
 
The Falcon offense started hot in Game 2 as well. RBI hits by Araiza and Sydney Bishop brought home three in the bottom of the first for UTPB, and Araiza doubled the following inning, driving in Andress from second base, to push the lead to four runs. Eastern New Mexico scored three runs in the third, but consecutive solo home runs by Bishop and Mia Quintero kept the Falcon lead intact. Although the Greyhounds scored once in the sixth, it was not enough in UTPB's 6-4 victory.
 
Quintero (2-2, HR, RBI, R) and Bishop (2-3, HR, 2 RBI, R) stole the show with their third-inning long balls, hitting their seventh and second homers of 2022. Araiza finished 2-for-4 with a double, three runs batted in, and one run scored while Gonzalez went 2-for-4 with one run. Andress (2-3, R), Melayna Lopez (1-3, R), and Martinez (1-3) also picked up base hits in the series finale.

The Falcons are just one game out of a playoff spot with two games to play.  The Falcons will close the regular season Saturday against Western New Mexico needing a pair of wins for a shot at the playoffs on senior day. Games will begin at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Download the UTPB Athletics App to follow the team all season long.