ODESSA, Texas (April 26, 2026) – Despite falling in both games on Senior Day, the UT Permian Basin softball team continued to showcase its improved play by battling in their closest game against Lubbock Christian University in eight seasons in a low-scoring 3-1 loss in game one. That was followed by a 7-2 defeat in game two.

Before the start of the action, Angelina Arriaga, Gabriella Cabrera, Keri Sanford and Kelsey Valo were all recognized for their excellent careers at UTPB in honor of Senior Day.
 
Game 1 (UTPB 1, LCU 3):

• It was a battle of aces in the circle in game one.
• Jessica Cantrell (12-9) needed just 11 pitches for a 1-2-3 top of the first inning. Then after a two-out single to center field by Odalys Solis and a walk by Amathyst Gonzalez followed by a wild pitch to move both runners up in the bottom of the first, a called strike three on a 3-2 count left two Falcons in scoring position as UTPB missed out on its opportunity to score first.
• Both pitchers put up two scoreless innings to start the game as a nice catch in the left center field gap by left fielder Carlee Quintero – out number two in the inning – helped out Cantrell in the top of the second.
• However, battling back from an 0-2 count to draw a leadoff walk in the top of the third inning was the Lady Chaparrals' Piper Garcia, and then after a sacrifice bunt moved her into scoring position, a two-out RBI-single to right center field by Kadin Vire brought her in to open up the scoring. Vire is one of the premier hitters in the Lone Star Conference, batting .410 (57-for-139) with 15 doubles (top-five in LSC), five triples (top-two in LSC) and four home runs coming into the game.
• Then after fouling off a 2-2 pitch by Cantrell, Kenzie Kauk straightened it out on the next pitch, sending a two-out home run just over the fence in left field to make it a 2-0 Lady Chaps' lead in the top of the fourth inning.
• LCU's starting pitcher, Alexis Clark (10-8), needed just six pitches in the second inning, threw 10 pitches in the third inning, and again threw 10 pitches in the fourth inning, giving her three straight 1-2-3 innings after stranding the two Falcons in scoring position with two outs back in the first inning.
• Backing up Clark was really good defense by the Lady Chaps, who made play after play defensively, including taking a way a hit from Arriaga on a ball hit to the hole at shortstop to lead off the bottom of the fifth.
• That missed baserunner could have helped the Falcons tie the game as UTPB would finally get on the scoreboard two batters later when Cantrell hit a solo home run to the opposite field (right field), her fourth long ball of the season, making the score 2-1.
• In both doubleheaders against LCU this season, Cantrell accounted for UTPB's lone run of game one with a solo home run.
• Unfortunately, the Lady Chaps would answer back with their second solo homer of the game, a one-out shot to center field by Brianna Chambers-Lee, making it 3-1 in the top of the sixth.
• After the new LCU pitcher, Reese Farrar, got two outs on just two pitches to start off the bottom of the sixth, Solis came up with her second single of the game with a hit to left field, but after fouling off three 0-2 pitches, a nice catch by the LCU right fielder on a flyout down the line by Gonzalez ended the inning.
• UTPB was held to just three hits in the game, including two by Solis.
• Cantrell finished with her conference-leading 15th complete game of the season, allowing five hits, three runs, one walk and three strikeouts in seven innings. Cantrell matched Clark with three 1-2-3 innings (1st, 5th, 7th).
• Clark allowed just two hits, one run, one walk and five strikeouts in five innings for LCU while Farrar picked up the save after allowing just one hit and no walks in her two innings, including a 1-2-3 seventh inning.
• It was UTPB's closes game against LCU since a 2-1 loss in Lubbock, Texas, in game one of a doubleheader on March 6, 2018.

 
Game 2 (UTPB 2, LCU 7):

• Thanks to a stolen base by Quintero and the third single of the day by Solis, UTPB had runners on the corners with one out in the bottom of the first. However, just like game one, the Falcons came up empty with two runners on base in the opening inning as this time a 6-4-3 double play brought an end to the first inning.
• Arriaga threw out a would-be base stealer for the second series in a row, gunning down the pinch runner at second base after a one-out walk in the top of the second inning. It was her 10th runner caught stealing of the season.
• Laila Vasquez (2-5) looked like she might be setting the Falcons up for another pitchers' duel in game two after getting to within just one out of putting up her third straight scoreless inning to start the game. Instead, a dropped fly ball in right field scored the first two runs of the game for LCU.
• Vasquez responded to the two unearned runs by the Lady Chaps in the third inning with a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the fourth.
• LCU's Ashlinn Hamilton (2-3) matched Vasquez with a 1-2-3 fourth inning, and did not allow a hit from one out in the first inning until a one-out single to second base by Arriaga in the bottom of the fifth.
• Vasquez nearly left two runners in scoring position in the top half of the fifth, but instead a hard-hit liner in and out of the glove of the Falcons' second baseman allowed two Lady Chaps to score and double up their lead (4-0).
• Both sets of runs were tough breaks for Vasquez, who exited with two outs in the fifth inning.
• An error and a hit by pitch helped UTPB load the bases with two outs in the bottom of the sixth, but the Falcons would be kept off the scoreboard until the final inning after a flyout to right field.
• The bottom of the seventh for UTPB started with back-to-back singles by Mia Serrato and Sanford, and then after a sacrifice bunt by Quintero, Solis finished her afternoon with a two-run single just off the glove at shortstop, good for her fourth hit of the day and good for UTPB's third hit of the inning ricocheting off one of LCU's infielders.
• Both teams had seven hits and two errors in game two, but UTPB left nine runners on base.
• Solis was 2-for-4 with two RBI's, and Sanford was 2-for-2 with a pair of walks in her final game on her home field.
• It was the most runs scored in a game for UTPB vs. LCU in their last 12 games (April 29, 2023; L, 10-2).

 
Team Records:

• UTPB falls to 18-27 overall and 9-25 in the Lone Star Conference, and went 11-15 in home games this season.
• It was the end of a streak of five consecutive series with at least one win for UTPB as the Falcons have been showing measurable improvement late in the season.
• LCU (25-21, 21-15) now holds a perfect 45-0 all-time record against UTPB.
• The Lady Chaps are currently sitting sixth in the league standings and inside the top-eight cutoff for the LSC Championship.
• LCU was also recently included in the NCAA Division II South Central Region's initial ranking release.

 
Coach's Quote:

• UTPB Head Softball Coach David Martinez said, "The day started off as pitchers' duel, but they got the timely hits that we did not. Jess did her best to get us back in there with her solo home run, and we played good defense behind her, we just did not get that timely hit for her. When we tried to get things going, we would hit into a double play or lineout to somebody. In game two, Laila threw really well again and was commanding the strike zone, but a couple of costly errors here and there were the difference. Now we want to finish strong next week. I want the team to help these seniors finish out on a good note by competing to the best of their abilities."
• Coach Martinez also made sure to thank his four seniors, adding "I want to thank the seniors for turning this program around. They have been through a lot of in their four years, but to stick it out shows their character. They have raised the bar and have set the standard for this program for years to come."

 
Series Combined Statistical Leaders:

• Odalys Solis led the Falcons' offense by hitting a combined 4-for-7 (.571). Each of her hits were singles and included a two-run single in the final inning of game two.
• Keri Sanford was 2-for-5 (.400) with two walks and a run scored during her Senior Day.
• Both Solis and Sanford posted a .571 on-base percentage as well.
• In game one, Jessica Cantrell hit 1-for-2 with a home run while also pitching all seven innings.

 
Senior Day Recap:

• Angelina Arriaga is a four-year Falcon and senior captain. Angelina comes from Abilene, Texas, and attended Cooper High School. She is a human performance major who has been named to the Lone Star Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll in Spring 2023 and Fall 2025, doing so last semester with a perfect 4.0 GPA. After graduation, she plans to go to school to be an OT. Her favorite memories from UTPB include going to Hawaii and any team moment spent together over the years.
• Gabriella Cabrera is a four-year Falcon. Gabby comes from Georgetown, Texas, and attended East View High School. She majors in human performance and has been named to the Lone Star Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll in every semester from 2023 to 2026, including a perfect 4.0 GPA this year. After graduation, Gabby plans to go to grad school for Physical Therapy. Her favorite memories from UTPB include going to Hawaii and bonding with her teammates.
• Keri Sanford is a four-year Falcon and senior captain. Keri comes from Georgetown, Texas, and attended East View High School. At UTPB, Keri was named to the Lone Star Conference All-Freshman Team in 2023, was named Third-Team All-Conference in 2025, and was UTPB's Women's Student-Athlete of the Year for 2024-25. She majors in elementary education and after graduation, Keri plans to teach at an elementary school. Her favorite memories from UTPB include enjoying the traveling and team dinners while bonding and creating lasting memories with her teammates.
• Kelsey Valo is a four-year Falcon. Kelsey comes from Weatherford, Texas, and attended Brewer High School. She is majoring in criminal justice with a minor in sociology, and after graduation, she plans to start a master's program while attending the policy academy. Her favorite memories from UTPB are the team's trip to Hawaii and the late-night get togethers with the team at the apartments.

 
Next Up: UTPB hits the road next weekend for its final weekend of the season. The Falcons will open their final weekend on Friday, May 1, at Eastern New Mexico University (1/3 p.m. MT) before wrapping up the year on Sunday, May 3, at No. 6 West Texas A&M University (12/2 p.m. CT).