ODESSA, Texas (February 27, 2026) – An epic 10-inning affair resulted in a 2-1 win in game one for the UT Permian Basin softball team against Texas A&M University-Kingsville on Friday at the UTPB Softball Park. It was the first win for UTPB against TAMUK since March 4, 2017, and was the end of an 18-game losing streak against the Javelinas. In game two, the Falcons had their chances but fell by a final score of 11-5.
 
Game 1 (UTPB 2, TAMAUK 1):

• Both pitchers were nine-up, nine-down to start the game, and after Jessica Cantrell (5-1) stranded a one-out single on third base in the top of the fourth, her counterpart, Andrea Martinez (2-4), kept her perfect start going in the bottom half.
• The first baserunner for the Falcons was Gabriella Cabrera with a one-out walk in the bottom of the fifth inning. Cantrell followed with a walk of her own to put two runners on base with one out, and then after Kaylee Moses moved both runners into scoring position with a groundout to second base, Michelle Balcazar drew the full-count walk to load the bases. Unfortunately, UTPB was still held to without a hit in the game as a groundout to first base got Martinez and the Javelinas out of the jam.
• After giving up the first hit of the game in the fourth inning, Cantrell bounced back to record back-to-back 1-2-3 innings in the fifth and sixth.
• UTPB's first hit of the game was a big one as Angelina Arriaga launched a home run to left field to make it 1-0 Falcons in the bottom of the sixth.
• Unfortunately, Cantrell allowed her first walk of the game on four straight pitches to start off the top of the seventh, and it came back to bite her as TAMUK would push across the tying run on a bunt single. Cantrell and the Falcons were then able to escape the inning without surrendering the lead thanks to a heads up caught stealing at home as Arriaga's throw down to second baseman Mia Serrato was returned back to home plate just in time to Arriaga to lay down the tag and keep the go-ahead run from scoring.
• After giving up the lead in the top half, UTPB nearly earned the win in the bottom of the seventh when pinch hitter Alivia Robison sent the first pitch she saw into left field for a two-out single. That was followed by a double down the left field line by Kelsey Valo to move the winning run to third base, but Martinez got a flyout to center field to force the game to move into extra innings.
• After a leadoff hit by pitch on a full count was followed by back-to-back sacrifice bunts, it was TAMUK that had a runner on third base with two outs in the top of the eighth, but Cantrell was able to get a flyout to Carlee Quintero in left field.
• Cantrell's effort was not without good defense behind her. A nice throw across the diamond by Balcazar on a ball just fair at third base resulted in the second out of the top of the second inning, and then she did it again to record the first out in the top of the fifth inning. Balcazar's strong defensive performance continued with another nice play on a long throw for the second out in the top of the ninth inning.
• Two close calls by the TAMUK defense resulted in back-to-back one-out hits for the Falcons by Cantrell and Moses in the bottom of the ninth, but back-to-back infield popouts ended the inning.
• With the bases loaded and just one out in the top of the 10th inning, Cantrell caught a pop up on a failed bunt attempt on the first pitch for out number two, and was then the beneficiary of a diving catch in center field for the third out.
• The bottom of the 10th for UTPB started off with a single to center field by Keri Sanford. That was followed by a single through the hole on the left side by Arriaga to put two runners on. After a pitching change by TAMUK trying to find an answer and  stop UTPB's momentum, instead, a third straight hit, this one coming off the bat of Laila Vasquez, found the grass in right center field to score Sanford and give the Falcons the epic walk-off victory.
• Cantrell pitched all 10 innings and allowed three hits, one run, two walks and six strikeouts for UTPB.
• For TAMUK, Martinez went nine innings and took the loss after allowing eight hits, two runs, three walks and nine strikeouts.

 
Game 2 (UTPB 5, TAMUK 11):

• UTPB manufactured a run with a leadoff single and two steals by Sanford, including a steal of home plate, to take a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first.
• Unfortunately, a seven-run, six-hit top of the third inning gave TAMUK control of the game.
• UTPB scored twice in the bottom of the third, first on an electric RBI-triple to right center field by Sanford and then on an RBI-groundout by Cabrera.
• Cabrera would later add a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning as UTPB tried to keep within striking distance down 8-4, but a costly two-out error by the UTPB defense in the top of the sixth led to a three-run inning for TAMUK to essentially put the game out of reach.
• After coming in to pitch in relief and giving up the game-winning hit in the 10th inning in game one, Marianna Zumerle (1-1) bounced back to earn the win in game two for the Javelinas, coming in during the third inning and pitching 2.2 innings allowing just three hits, one run and no walks.
• The Falcons' pitching staff hit six batters in the contest.
• After scoring the game winning run in game one, Sanford was 2-for-4 with two runs scored, two stolen bases and a triple in game two.
• Similarly to Balcazar's effort in game one, Odalys Solis played strong defense at third base for most of game two and matched Balcazar with five assists while also adding one putout.

 
Team Records:

• Now at 9-6 overall, UTPB (2-4 Lone Star Conference) matches its total number of wins from 2025.
• Playing in its first two true road games of the season, TAMUK moved to 10-8 overall and 5-3 in the LSC. The Javelinas had been on a tear, winning nine straight games before a pair of losses to the reigning National Champions, UT Tyler, on Sunday - the streak ended as the longest for the program since 2022.

 
Coach's Quote:

• UTPB Head Softball Coach David Martinez said, "The first game was a true pitchers' duel, No. 1 vs. No. 1, best vs. best, and Cantrell threw really well. We were going to ride with her no matter what; it was her game to win or lose. She knew that she had to fight through everything because we were counting on her, and she knew that she could not let the team down. Vasquez got the big hit in the final inning. She was 0-for-4 with three strikeouts going into the at bat, but she made some adjustments to her swing and got the timely hit that we needed. One error opened it up in the second game and it got away from us. It could have been a different ballgame, but you have to take a split when you can against a good ballclub. It's awesome to already have nine wins this season. It shows that we are moving in the right direction. We are slowing taking baby steps, taking it game-by-game and inning-by-inning, that is all we are trying to do, and if we continue to do that, the wins will come. We are just trying to put out a good product to make the university proud. We are proud of the girls and their fight; they did not quit tonight."

 
Next Up: UTPB will finish off the weekend against Texas A&M International University. The doubleheader will start at 12 p.m. on Sunday, March 1, from the UTPB Softball Park.