ODESSA, Texas (February 14, 2025) – The start of Lone Star Conference action for The University of Texas Permian Basin softball team saw the Falcons host the No. 1 nationally-ranked team in all of NCAA Division II, The University of Texas at Tyler. In the end, UTPB avoided being run-ruled in either game but fell 16-2 in game number one and 8-1 in game number two.
 
Game 1 (UTPB 2, UT Tyler 16):

• UT Tyler scored 16 runs on 14 hits, including a seven-spot in the seventh inning, hit two big home runs into the wind and held UTPB to without a hit.
• Jessica Cantrell (3-1) kept the Patriots off the scoreboard in the first inning, but allowed four runs in the second inning.
• UTPB made it interesting in the bottom of the third inning with two runs on no hits, but Kaylee Davis (2-0) came in to pitch with the bases loaded and slammed the door shut the rest of the way.
• The bottom of the third inning for UTPB started with a leadoff walk by Lauren Lopez, followed by sacrifice bunt by Angelina Arriaga in which the pinch runner, Mia Serrato, took third base on the throw.
• Carlee Quintero was then hit by a pitch and Keri Sanford reached on an error at third base to load the bases.
• The second hit by pitch of the inning, this one by Emery Aguilar, scored Serrato for the first run of the game for the Falcons, and then an RBI-walk by Kaylee Moses scored Quintero.
• That is when Davis entered the game and subsequently got a 6-4-3 inning-ending double play.
• UT Tyler would turn another 6-4-3 double play in the next inning and retired 11 straight batters to end the game.
• A leadoff home run to left center field in the top of the fifth inning and a grand slam to center field in the seventh inning were the big blows in this one by the Patriots.

 
Game 2 (UTPB 1, UT Tyler 8):

• UT Tyler had eight runs on 14 hits, its second game with 14 hits, while UTPB recorded five hits.
• Meghan Gattis (0-3), like Cantrell, kept the Patriots off the scoreboard in the first inning, but also pitched a 1-2-3 second inning.
• A leadoff error at shortstop and a two-out RBI-double led to the first run of the game for UT Tyler in the top of the third inning.
• Four straight hits to start the fourth inning, including a leadoff double and later a two-run double, were later followed by a two-run home run to right center field by JT Smith, the LSC Preseason Player of the Year, to give the Patriots some separation on the scoreboard.
• UTPB got its first hit of the day in the bottom half of the fourth inning when Aguilar led off with a single to left field. UTPB, however, would strand two runners in scoring position.
• In the bottom of the sixth, UTPB got onto the scoreboard as Aguilar reached on an error by the third baseman, went from first to third on a single to right field by Moses, and then scored on a two-out single to right field by Taylor Ramirez.
• Cera Blanchard (4-0) pitched 6.2 innings, allowing five hits and one run while striking out five batters to pick up the win in the contest.

 
Team Records:

• UTPB falls to 5-7 overall and starts 0-2 in Lone Star Conference play while UT Tyler improves to a perfect 11-0 overall and 2-0 in the LSC.
• UT Tyler begins its 2025 campaign as the unanimous No. 1-ranked team in the NFCA GoRout Division II Preseason Coaches Poll as it looks to defend its national championship from the 2024 season.
• The Patriots put together one of their best seasons in program history in 2024, finishing the year 58-8 overall and 37-5 in LSC play. The Patriots claimed a share of the Lone Star Conference Regular Season Championship, following that up with qualification into the NCAA Tournament. There, the Patriots caught fire, winning 10 straight games, four of which by six or more runs, on their way to taking the national championship and first of the Division II era for the UT Tyler athletic department.
• The Patriots are 11-0 on the season and have yet to allow more than three runs in a game thus far. They have also scored three or more runs in every game and have six total shutouts on the year.

 
Next Up: UT Permian Basin is back in action at home on Sunday, February 16, hosting Texas Woman's University. The doubleheader is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. from the UTPB Softball Complex.