ODESSA, Texas (March 15, 2025) – The highlights of the day for The University of Texas Permian Basin softball team were taking a 1-0 lead in the first inning of game one and scoring five runs in the fifth inning of game two to extend the game. In the end, the Falcons fell 12-1 in game one and 16-7 in six innings in game two against No. 3 nationally-ranked West Texas A&M University on a windy Saturday afternoon at the UTPB Softball Park.
 
Game 1 (UTPB 1, WT 12):

• UTPB scored first as a dropped third strike allowed a runner to reach with two outs, and then after a single to second base by Taylor Ramirez, an errant throw by the shortstop allowed Carlee Quintero to score the first run of the game. However, Ramirez was tagged out at home trying to score all the way from first base on the error.
• Despite the high winds, the UTPB defense navigated the blowing conditions to record three popouts in the top of the first inning, followed by three straight groundouts in a 1-2-3 second inning.
• Some savvy baserunning and an infield single back to the pitcher led to the first run of the game for WT in the top of the third inning, but starting pitcher Jessica Cantrell (4-8) was able to get a strikeout and a popout to second base to strand two runners in scoring position with one out.
• After an error to extend the top of the fourth inning, WT took advantage with a two-out, two-run home run to left field on a 3-2 count to take its first lead of the day.
• UTPB got two runners on with no outs in the bottom of the fourth after a leadoff walk by Ramirez was followed by a "seeing-eye" single through the left side by Kelsey Valo, but a popout on a bunt attempt was followed by back-to-back strikeouts to end the inning.
• The lead widened for WT in the fifth inning when the second of back-to-back doubles for the Lady Buffs brought in a pair of runs and a two-out RBI-single up the middle made it a three-run inning and a 6-1 lead.
• Kaylee Moses led off the bottom of the fifth a hard-hit double to center field but was stranded at third base. Then in the sixth, Ramirez and Valo again both reached base with nobody out, this time after back-to-back singles. A sacrifice bunt by Angelina Arriaga put two runners in scoring position, but unfortunately the Falcons again came up empty after back-to-back strikeouts to end the inning, including a controversial final out. The controversy came after Mia Serrato appeared to drive in a run with a single down the third base line, but the play was reversed after the umpire deemed she had stepped on the plate during her swing.
• WT added a pair of home runs to left field in a six-run, seven-hit top of the seventh inning, including the second home run of the game by freshman Avery Cannon.
• Emilee Boyer (14-1) earned the win for WT after pitching six innings allowing five hits, one unearned run, two walks and 10 strikeouts.
• Ramirez (2-2) and Valo (2-3) accounted for four of UTPB's five hits in the game. In addition, Ramirez reached base in all three of her plate appearances after her leadoff walk in the fourth inning.

 
Game 2 (UTPB 7, WT 16):

• WT scored four runs on four hits in the first inning, including its third two-run home run and fourth home run overall of the day yet again to left field.
• UTPB's first hit of the game was a one-out double to left center field by Gabriella Cabrera in the bottom of the second. Cabrera then moved to third base on a wild pitch, and then after a walk by Arriaga to put runners on the corners, a nicely placed sacrifice bunt by Samantha Rodriguez allowed Cabrera to sneak home and get the Falcons on the scoreboard. It would not be the last extra-base hit or run scored of the game for Cabrera.
• The Lady Buffs would start to create separation from UTPB in the top of the fourth. Cannon's third home run of the day was a solo shot to center field to make it 6-1 in the top of the fourth inning. A wild pitch with the bases loaded brought in another run. WT's sixth home run of the day and fifth home run to left field was a three-run shot by Boyer, the game-one starting pitcher, who almost hit the team bus parked behind the left field bullpen, bringing the score to 10-1.
• UTPB extended the game in the bottom of the fifth with RBI-singles by Quintero and Valo and a three-run home run to left field by Cabrera, all with two outs.
• UTPB's final run came in the sixth inning on a one out-single up the middle by Lauren Lopez and a two-out RBI-triple to right center field by Keri Sanford.
• UTPB finished with eight hits in the game, including six in the last two innings.
• Valo and Cabrera were both 2-for-3 in game two while Valo was a combined 4-for-6 on the day.

 
Team Records:

• The opening weekend of Lone Star Conference divisional play for UTPB came to an end with the Falcons falling to 6-24 overall and 1-19 in the LSC.
• WT, the No. 3-ranked team in the country and the 2021 NCAA DII National Champion, improves to 28-2 and 18-2. As a team, WT leads the country in hits, RBI's, runs scored, and triples. 13 different Lady Buffs have a .300 batting average or higher. WT's leading hitter, Emilee Boyer, sports a .525 batting average and leads Division II with 12 home runs and 48 RBI's.
• The 28-8 combined score between the teams on Saturday was an improvement from the last two seasons when UTPB lost by a combined score 26-0 in three games against the Lady Buffs last year and a combined 29-0 the year before that.

 
Next Up: UTPB will play on the road for the first time in divisional play, taking on Western New Mexico University starting at 2 p.m. Central Time / 1 p.m. Mountain Time on Friday, March 21.