ODESSA, Texas (March 6, 2026) – The University of Texas Permian Basin softball team was swept, falling 10-2 in five innings in game one and 6-1 in game two against Texas Woman's University on Friday at the UTPB Softball Park.

Game 1 (UTPB 2, TWU 10):

• A popout double play on a bunt back to Jessica Cantrell (5-3) in the top of the second inning helped Cantrell strand a runner on second base in each of the first two innings.
• Both teams did not have a hit in the first two innings.
• However, with two outs and a runner at second base again after a leadoff single to center field for the first hit of the game by either team in the top of the third, this time the Pioneers got their two-out hit as Hawaa Townsend got all of the pitch and crushed a two-run home run to left center field.
• In the bottom of the third, UTPB's first hit of a game was a solo home run down the left field line by Kelsey Valo, cutting the deficit in half (2-1).
• Another leadoff single got the Pioneers going in the top of the fourth inning, this one a single to shortstop. That was followed by a one-out walk and a two-out bunt single to load the bases.
• With the bases loaded and two outs in the top of the fourth, leadoff hitter Marissa Espinoza nearly brought all of the runners home, sending the first pitch she saw crashing off the fence just barely foul in left field. Instead, Espinoza settled for a hard-hit RBI single to third base, and Michelle Balcazar did a great job to just knock the ball down.
• Unfortunately, some defensive miscues by the Falcons would ultimately make it a six-run fourth inning for the Pioneers on just four hits. The second run of the inning came on a hit by pitch, the next two came on a single down the left field line by Townsend, and the final two runs came in after an error at shortstop.
• After back-to-back one-out singles by Carlee Quintero and Laila Vasquez were followed by a dropped ball at third base on a fielder's choice, UTPB had the bases loaded with one out in the bottom of the fourth, and a good battle by Kaylee Moses led to an RBI-groundout to first base to score Quintero.
• TWU's Randi Crawford (5-2), a member of the 2025 Lone Star Conference All-Freshman Team, would pitch all five innings to pick up the complete-game victory, allowing just four hits, two total runs, one earned run, zero walks and six strikeouts in the process.
• Townsend was 2-for-3 with four RBI's on a two-run home run and a two-run single for the Pioneers while Espinoza was 2-for-4 with three RBI's (two RBI-singles).
• The Falcons had as many hits as they did errors in game one.

 
Game 2 (UTPB 1, TWU 6):

• All three outs in the top of the first inning came courtesy of a groundout to Odalys Solis at third base. In all, Solis totaled five assists on groundouts in the first three innings.
• Neither team had a baserunner in the first two innings.
• However, just like game one, TWU struck first in the top of the third inning. A leadoff walk on a 3-2 pitch was followed by a bunt single, and after the Pioneers put two runners into scoring position with nobody out, a one-out RBI-single through the left side scored the first run of the game. Two more runs would score in the inning, first on an errant throw by the catcher tying to catch a runner stealing, and secondly on a wild pitch.
• After one trip through the lineup, UTPB's first baserunner of the game came via a leadoff single to center field by Keri Sanford in the bottom of the fourth. Quintero followed with a single through the left side, and the ball got by the left fielder, allowing Sanford to score all the way from first base and get the Falcons on the scoreboard. Unfortunately, the Falcons would stand a runner on third base with one out, forgoing an opportunity to cut it to a one-run game.
• In the bottom of the fifth, pinch hitter Lilly Chavez sent the first pitch she saw up the middle for a two-out single, good for her second hit of the season.
• Then in the top of the sixth for TWU, Elizabeth Smith crushed the first pitch of the inning over the fence in left field for a leadoff home run, making it a 4-1 lead. The inning then continued with a hit by pitch, an error on a sacrifice bunt to the pitcher and a single off the glove off the pitcher to load the bases with just one out. That was followed by a two-run single to center field to make the score 6-1 and give the Pioneers' their second three-run inning of the game.
• Sanford delivered her second leadoff hit in a row with a leadoff single through the left side in the bottom of the sixth, but with two runners on and two outs, a long drive by Alivia Robinson saw the center fielder made the catch at the warning track.
• Lastly, a two-out single to right field by Katelyn Hernandez in the bottom of the seventh, her second hit of the season as well, served as the last gasp for the Falcons.
• Both of the Pioneers' starting pitchers went the distance in each game as game two saw Gaddis Caydance (3-3) go all seven innings while allowing five hits, one unearned run, zero walks and eight strikeouts.
• Sanford was 2-for-3 in game two with a combined three hits on the day for UTPB while for TWU, Espinoza was 2-for-4 with three RBI's (two RBI-singles) for the second game in a row.
• In the circle, Priscilla Medina (3.2 innings to start) and Presley Crawford (3.0 innings to finish) both gave up a three-run inning but did their best to compete and give UTPB a chance while Vasquez got the Falcons out of a jam with two runners in scoring position in the top of the fourth.
• The Pioneers also finished with six stolen bases in game two, and had 10 stolen bases between both games.

 
Team Records:

• UTPB falls below .500 overall (9-10) for the first time this season and drops to 2-8 in the Lone Star Conference.
• TWU improves to 8-10 and 6-4.

 
Coach's Quote:

• UTPB Head Softball Coach David Martinez said, "What I saw today was that we had a little bit of fight in us. It obviously was not the end results that we wanted, but we did get a little bit of timely hitting, and that is something we were working on hard this week. It was great to see the team execute what we worked on for the most part, but we just could not get enough runs across the plate. In game two, players like Chavez and Hernandez showed me that we can count on players coming off the bench and taking advantage of their opportunity, and Crawford showed me a lot of good signs pitching as well. I know she has not gotten the innings so far because she is behind three upperclassmen, but now she is definitely going to have to see some more innings. It is all about the next people stepping up. Coach Brooke and I are both extremely proud of this team for continuing to compete."

Next Up: UT Permian Basin is back in action for its fourth straight doubleheader at home on Sunday, March 8, hosting two-time defending national champion, The University of Texas at Tyler. The doubleheader is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. from the UTPB Softball Park.