ODESSA, Texas (April 27, 2025) – It was Senior Day for Michaella Baker and Samantha Rodriguez, and it was a day that saw the Falcons' offense carry the load in an 11-9 win in game one against Western New Mexico University. In game two, the Falcons scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth to tie it at 3-3, but gave up two runs in the top of the seventh and fell 5-3 in their season finale.
 
Game 1 (UTPB 11, WNMU 9):

• Starting pitcher Layla Torres was the beneficiary of a double play flyout to right field as Kaylee Moses doubled up the runner at first base for the first two outs of the inning, and then Moses made a diving catch crashing in for the third out.
• UTPB set the tone for the game in its half of the first inning, starting off with back-to-back singles by Keri Sanford and Kelsey Valo before executing a double steal where Lilly Chavez took second and allowed Sanford to sprint home for the first run of the game.
• Then with two outs and the bases loaded later in the inning, a wild pitch allowed Emery Aguilar to score and make it a two-run first inning to kick off Senior Day for the Falcons.
• Valo recorded her second hit in as many at bats to start the day as she singled home Mia Serrato to make it a 4-0 Falcons' lead in just the second inning.
• Torres kept the Mustangs off the scoreboard and out of the hit column for the first two innings, and was put into position to potentially earn the win when Baker crushed a Senior Day home run to straightaway center field in the bottom of the third inning to make it 5-1.
• However, Torres could not get out of the fourth inning after surrendering three hits and three walks, and ultimately it was a six-run inning for WNMU to take its first lead of the day (7-5).
• Then down 7-6 in the bottom of the fifth inning, it was UTPB's turn for a big inning as Carlee Quintero led off with a walk and Angelina Arriaga hit a two-run home run almost to the same spot as Baker did, bringing the Falcons from down one run to up one (8-7) with one swing of the bat.
• With two outs still in the fifth, a fielding error by the Mustangs off the bat of Sanford extended the inning, and then Valo's third hit of the game set the table for back-to-back RBI-doubles to left center field by Moses (1 RBI) and Aguilar (2 RBI).
• In the end, UTPB scored in each of the first five innings of the game and scored five runs in the bottom fifth inning to pull away. It was a big answer after WNMU's six-run inning in the top of the fourth.
• A nice pick by Valo at first base on the throw from Rodriguez at third base was good for the third out of a 1-2-3 top of the sixth inning pitched by Meghan Gattis (1-12).
• After back-to-back singles for WNMU to start off the top of the seventh against Gattis, a deep shot to left field was tracked down by Quintero for the first out of the inning. Then after a two-run single just sneaking through up the middle of the infield to cut UTPB's lead in half (11-9), Sanford stayed with a liner at short and made the throw to Rodriguez for the force out at third base and out number two of the inning. Gattis then got a flyout to Aguilar in center field to strand two runners on base, including the potential tying run.
• After coming in to pitch for Torres in the fourth inning, Gattis finished with 3.1 innings pitched allowing six hits, two runs and no walks, but most importantly, picked up her first win of the season.
• Valo finished 3-or-3 with a walk while Aguilar and Quintero were both 2-for-3 with a walk.
• For the seniors, Baker hit her second home run of the season while Rodriguez matched Sanford for the team lead in the game with two runs scored.

 
Game 2 (UTPB 3, WNMU 5):

• Aguilar (2-10) battled back to get a swinging strikeout to strand a runner on second base in the top of the first inning, but then she left one of her own runners at third with a called strike three to end the bottom half.
• Serrato caught a lineout at second base and stepped on the bag for an inning-ending double play in the top of the second inning.
• In the bottom of the second, WNMU again kept UTPB off the scoreboard as a double steal attempt with runners at the corners and two outs resulted in the lead runner being caught in a pickle and tagged out between third and home.
• A 6-3 groundball double play turned by Sanford assisted Aguilar with the first two outs in the top of the third inning. It was the second double play turned in as many innings for the Falcons' defense, and then Quintero made a nice running catch on a foul out near the left field line for the final out of the inning.
• Aguilar followed with a 1-2-3 top of the fourth inning, but in the bottom half, the Falcons came up empty with a runner on third base for the third time in the first four innings of the game.
• Then in the fifth inning, the scoring drought came to an end as Baker was unable to stop a two-out single just past her at first base, and the hit was followed by a bobble in right field to allow the first run of the game to score from second base.
• Down 3-1 after getting a run on the board in the bottom of the sixth, UTPB had the bases loaded with one out, and a nice catch in right field limited Taylor Ramirez to a sacrifice fly to score Moses and make it a one-run game. An error at shortstop on the next at bat by Quintero then allowed the tying run (Aguilar) to score.
• However, the top of the seventh inning started with a leadoff single on a bang-bang play at first base by a diving Baker. The pinch runner for the Mustangs then stole second base on the first pitch to put the go-ahead run into scoring position with nobody out and put some pressure on the Falcons.
• With the bases loaded and still nobody out in the top of the seventh, Aguilar limited the damage to two runs, but in the bottom of the seventh, UTPB was unable to take advantage of a leadoff walk by Serrato as Moses hit a hard lineout to second base to end the game.
• Aguilar pitched all seven innings allowing nine hits, five total runs, four earned runs, five walks and four strikeouts. Her counterpart, Haiven Schoolcraft (3-6), also went the distance and allowed six hits, three total runs, two earned runs, three walks and three strikeouts.
• Sanford and Moses were both 2-for-4 for the Falcons' offense.
• There were no extra-base hits in the game for either team.

 
Combined Statistical Leaders:

• Emery Aguilar and Carlee Quintero were both 3-for-6 (.500) on the day while Kaylee Moses, Keri Sanford and Kelsey Valo were all 3-for-7 (.429).
• Sanford led the Falcons with three runs scored on the day while Moses led with three RBI's.

 
Senior Day Recap:

• Michaella Baker has been at UTPB since 2023. Baker comes from Coppell, Texas, and attended Coppell High School. She is an education major, and plans to get her master's and coach college softball. Her favorite memories at UTPB include spending time with teammates at family dinners, and away game trips.
• Samantha Rodriguez played one season at UTPB after transferring from Alcorn State University. Rodriguez comes from El Paso, Texas, and attended Montwood High School. She majors in sociology and plans to get her master's and start her coaching career. Her favorite memories at UTPB include team bonding events, getting treatment in the athletic training room with UTPB's amazing trainers, and having fun on the field one last time.
• Lastly, the UTPB softball team also recognized Graduate Assistant Athletic Trainer Pallavi Schwarting. Schwarting is a native of Placitas, New Mexico, and has worked at UTPB for two years. Schwarting has been a dedicated athletic trainer and the UTPB softball team is grateful for everything she has added to the program.

 
Team Record:

• UTPB finishes its season 9-45 overall and 4-40 in the Lone Star Conference.