ODESSA, Texas (March 8, 2026) – The University of Texas Permian Basin softball team hosted two-time defending national champion, The University of Texas at Tyler, for the second year in a row, and the Patriots defeated the Falcons 11-0 in six innings in game one and 9-1 in five innings in game two while holding the Falcons to three hits in both games on Sunday at the UTPB Softball Park.
 
Game 1 (UTPB 0, UT Tyler 11):

• A called strike three left the bases loaded after three walks by Priscilla Medina (3-4) in the top of the first inning.
• UTPB loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the first after a two-out single off the pitcher by Angelina Arriaga, a walk by Gabriella Cabrera and a hit by pitch on the first pitch to Jessica Cantrell, but a line drive back to Kearston Gooch (10-2) in the circle ended the inning.
• After a hit by pitch and a walk to leadoff the top of the second, UT Tyler scored three runs without recording a hit.
• An errant throw from shortstop brought in the first run of the game from second base, a sacrifice fly to right field scored the second run, and the third run came on a steal of home plate after the throw down to second on a bluff steal by the runner at first base.
• The Patriots' first hit of the game was then a two-run double to left center field, and that was followed by back-to-back RBI-singles to make it a seven-run inning, all unearned, for UT Tyer, which sent 13 batters to the plate in the inning and took advantage of three errors on the UTPB defense.
• Presley Crawford would pitch scoreless third, fourth and fifth innings for the Falcons, allowing just one baserunner in each inning.
• UTPB's second hit of the game was a leadoff single to left center field by Cabrera in bottom of the fourth, and then Kelsey Valo added a hard-hit single to shortstop with two outs in the inning to put two runners on base.
• Amathyst Gonzalez made a great catch hitting up against the fence in center field for the second out of the top of the fifth inning.
• Sydney Linn would hit a grand slam to straightaway center field for UT Tyler in the top of the sixth to get the Patriots to the run-rule. She had each of the final five RBI's of the game for the Patriots.
• Arriaga reached for the second time in the game, drawing a leadoff walk in the bottom of the sixth and matching Cabrera with a hit and a walk as well.
• The Patriots would score their 11 runs on just six hits.
• Gooch allowed just one hit and one walk in the first three innings of the combined shutout before Addison Martindale picked up the three-inning save allowing two hits and one walk to go along with four strikeouts.

 
Game 2 (UTPB 1, UT Tyler 9):

• The very first pitch of the game resulted in a perfect bunt single to second base for the Patriots, followed by another bunt single leading to an errant throw by the Falcons; catcher to put two runners into scoring position just two pitches into the game. That was followed by a two-run single up the middle, just hopping over the shortstop's glove and into center field to open up the scoring.
• Three straight popouts would help Cantrell (5-4) limit the damage to two runs in the top of the first, and then a 2-6 caught stealing to end the top of the second helped her face the minimum in that inning.
• A dribbler to third base by Alivia Robinson allowed her to lead off the bottom of the second inning with a single for UTPB, and then a sacrifice bunt by Cabrera moved her into scoring position. Robinson just slid in safely with a stolen base at third, and then Odalys Solis paid it off with an RBI-single up the middle to get UTPB on the scoreboard for the first time and only time on the day.
• UT Tyler would get the run back and more in the top of the third, leading off the inning with a double off the fence in left field before seeing the runner move to third base on a flyout to right field and then score on an RBI-single to left field. Two more runs would score in what was a three-run, four-hit inning, getting one run on the second double of the inning and another on a sacrifice fly.
• Through three innings, UT Tyler had eight hits, already surpassing its total from game one.
• Despite UT Tyler's four-run fourth inning, its second straight inning with four hits, the inning also featured a juggling diving catch by Carlee Quintero in left center field.
• Arriaga notched her second single of the day with a leadoff hit to center field in the bottom of the fourth, and then Lilly Chavez led off the bottom of the fifth with a walk, but each time the runner would be erased on a fielder's choice thrown from third base to second base.
• The Patriots would finish game two with 13 hits, more than doubling their game-one number, and also totaled four doubles.
• Ally Kimball (1-1) pitched the five-inning complete game for UT Tyler, allowing just three hits, one run and one walk.

 
Team Records:

• UTPB falls to 9-12 overall and 2-10 in Lone Star Conference play while UT Tyler improves to 17-7 overall and 9-3 in the LSC.
• Last year the Patriots completed a feat not done since the 1997-1998 season in Division II softball, and that is win back-to-back NCAA National Championships. They finished the year 62-5 overall and 40-4 in LSC play. They earned a share of their fifth straight LSC title, and won their fourth consecutive NCAA South Central Region title. The Patriots capped that effort off with a 10-1 record in the NCAA Tournament, including a perfect 5-0 run at the World Series to claim the top spot for the second straight year.

 
Coach's Quote:

• UTPB Head Softball Coach David Martinez said, "I liked that we took aggressive swings, we competed at the plate and we did not get cheated. They capitalized on our errors, and when we missed our spots, they took advantage of their opportunities. Cantrell, Medina and Crawford all threw well for a couple of innings, but with a team that good, you cannot afford to miss and make mistakes, and they made us pay. They are the two-time national champs for a reason."

Next Up: UTPB will try to get its next win on the road in Oklahoma next weekend, taking on No. 13-ranked Oklahoma Christian University starting at 2 p.m. on Friday, March 13, followed by Cameron University starting at 1 p.m. on Sunday, March 15.