ODESSA, Texas (March 30, 2025) – The University of Texas Permian Basin softball team totaled 13 hits on the day, all of which were singles, but had just two runs to show for it as the Falcons were defeated 5-1 and 8-1 against Lubbock Christian University in a Lone Star Conference West Division matchup on Sunday.
 
Game 1 (UTPB 1, LCU 5):

• Both teams scored a run in the second inning with UTPB's coming via a leadoff walk by Kelsey Valo, a wild pitch to move her to second base and an RBI-single to right center field by Lauren Lopez to score her from second.
• The bottom of the third inning featured the second hit of the game for Keri Sanford and the second walk for Valo, but with the bases loaded and two outs, a groundout to third base left the bags full and kept the score tied.
• With the go-ahead run on second base in the top of the fourth inning, center fielder Taylor Ramirez crashed into the fence in left center field at full speed, but somehow held onto the ball to record the second out of the inning. That play prevented a run, and then a flyout to Carlee Quintero in left field ended the inning with two runners on base.
• However, the fourth hit by pitch thrown by UTPB's starting pitcher, Emery Aguilar (1-3), eventually led to a three-run top of the fifth inning for LCU as the Lady Chapparals pushed across a run on a two-out RBI-walk by Kawehi Ili and then added a two-run single to center field by Riley Flores.
• Aguilar allowed five hits, four runs, two walks and four strikeouts in five innings.
• Meghan Gattis then came in to pitch and got a 1-2-3 top of the sixth inning.
• Unfortunately, the UTPB offense was set down 1-2-3 in both the fifth and sixth innings, and then had to face a four-run deficit in the final inning.
• LCU used its three-run fifth inning and got strong pitching from Ashlinn Hamilton and Kendall Ward to secure the win. Ward (4-1) picked up the victory out of the bullpen as she went 4.1 shutout innings while giving up just two hits and a walk. The Falcons did not record a baserunner over the final two innings and were held to 1-for-10 for the game with runners on base.
• UTPB was led offensively by Sanford, who went 2-for-4.

 
Game 2 (UTPB 1, LCU 8):

• After starting game one in the circle, Aguilar started game two in center field and caught a flyout while throwing out a runner at home plate to record the inning-ending double play in the first inning.
• Aguilar stayed busy by making two more catches in center field for the first two outs of the second inning, and then starting pitcher Jessica Cantrell (4-12) got a called strike three to end what was her first 1-2-3 inning of the game.
• Cantrell pitched another 1-2-3 inning in the third, bookended by swinging strikeouts, and faced only the minimum number of batters through the first three innings of the game.
• Both teams were held hitless until a bloop single down the right field line by Kaylee Moses with one out in the bottom of the third inning. A two-out single to center field by Aguilar put two runners on base for the Falcons, but a flyout to left field ended the inning.
• Then after back-to-back one-out singles for LCU in the top of the fourth, third baseman Samantha Rodriguez played the wind and got down and dirty to make a catch in foul territory for out number two. However, on a 3-2 count on the next at bat, Kristen Boyd delivered an RBI-single to center field, the third single of the inning for the Lady Chaps to open the scoring.
• A swing-and-a-miss strike three by Cantrell stranded two more potential runs in scoring position for LCU in the fourth, but a leadoff walk in the top of the fifth inning came back to bite her as a sacrifice bunt moved the runner over, and then with two outs, an RBI-double to left field by Kadin Vire allowed LCU to double its lead to 2-0.
• A bloop single to center field by Mia Serrato and a walk by Moses put two runners on with one out for the top of the Falcons' lineup in the bottom of the fifth inning, but a foul out on a bunt attempt and a groundout to third base ended any potential scoring threat.
• The Lady Chaps got three straight hits to start the top of the sixth inning and chased Cantrell from the game before ultimately scoring four runs on five hits in the inning.
• Back-to-back singles by Kylie Parker and Serrato led off the bottom of the seventh for UTPB, and Aguilar was able to bring in a run with a two-out single placed just between the pitcher and second base.
• After giving the Falcons a chance in game one with her strong pitching performance, Aguilar was 2-for-4 at the plate with UTPB's lone RBI in game two.
• Serrato was 2-for-2 after pinch hitting in the fifth inning.
• LCU picked up the win behind a complete-game effort from Teoni Lamb (5-5), who went seven innings giving up one run on eight hits while allowing one walk and striking out five. She limited the Falcons to just 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position.

 
Team Records:

• UTPB falls to 6-32 overall and 1-27 in the LSC while LCU improves to 23-15 overall and gets to .500 in conference play at 14-14.
• The sweep was the Lady Chaps' first road sweep of the season and places them with a 6-10 road record.
• Lubbock Christian holds a perfect 39-0 all-time record against UT Permian Basin.

 
Next Up: UTPB will play on the road at Sul Ross State University starting at 4 p.m. on Friday, April 4, marking the halfway point of LSC divisional play. The Falcons will then host the Lobos to finish off the weekend starting at 11 a.m. on Sunday, April 6, to begin the second half of divisional play.