The UT Permian Basin Softball had the long ball going on Sunday, blasting five home runs, including a pair of grand slams.  Stephanie Jimenez and Julia Bumford had two homers each in the doubleheader.  Bumford and Aracely Araiza hit grand slams as the Falcons concluded their weekend with a split.

The offense was rolling in the second game of the day.  Andress singled to center to start the action before stealing second and third.  Bumford drove her in on a ground ball for the early 1-0 lead.  Three straight walks had the Falcons in business in the second, loading the bases.  Keri Sanford brought home a run on a fielder's choice.  Andress followed her with her second hit of the game, driving in two, for a 4-0 lead.  The Falcons poured it on in the fourth, once again loading the bases.  Araiza erased any doubt in the outcome of the game with her fifth career home run.  Bumford followed with a solo shot and a 9-0 Falcon lead.  Adams State finally got to starting pitcher Abby Cousins in the bottom half of the fourth on a two-run shot of their own, but that's all the senior would allow to cross the plate all game.  The Falcons added a pair of insurance runs in the sixth.  Sanford singled to start the inning and scored on a double by Bumford.  Jimenez followed with a double of her own to bring Bumford around for final run of the game in the 11-2 win, and the first for the Falcons under head coach Sam Mendez.

Small ball got the Falcons their first run of the afternoon after a pair of walks and a single loaded the bases.  Emily Andress pulled one through the right side to plate Angelina Arriaga.  Trailing by a run in the third, Jimenez homered to left to tie the score at two.  New Mexico Highlands scored six unanswered runs and took an 8-2 lead heading into the seventh.  With one out the Falcons loaded the bases on an error and a pair of walks.  Up stepped Bumford who blasted it to left field for a grand slam, bringing the Falcons back into the game.  Jimenez followed with her second homer of the game, and fourth of the weekend, to cut the deficit to one.  The offensive surge was too late as they couldn't push across another run for the 8-7 final.

Bumford finished the day with seven RBI and three extra base hits.  Andress had four hits, as well as four stolen bases, on the day while Jimenez added three.  Sanford also had three hits, scoring four runs.

Cousins earned the win, allowing just three hits to the Grizzlies.  In the first game Evelyn Duran allowed just one baserunner in 1.2 innings of action.

The Falcons travel to Lubbock next weekend starting with a rematch with Adams State on Friday.  Download the UTPB Athletics App to follow the team all season long.