LOS LUNAS, NM. – SWOSU Softball opened the season with a pair of losses Friday, dropping a tight opener after leading for most of the game before falling 4-0 to UTPB in the nightcap.
The Bulldogs (0-2) will play two more games tomorrow at the South Central Regional Tournament. First, they will face host Western New Mexico at 1:30 p.m. before taking on No. 8 West Texas at 6:30 p.m. to close the day.
Game One
Sul Ross State 5, SWOSU 2
The Dawgs jumped out to a 1-0 lead just two batters into the game, as
Maddie Rahon put the ball in play and multiple errors by the Lobo defense allowed her to circle the bases and score the first run of the year. Ten consecutive half-innings went scoreless, as
Blaire Gentry delivered five shutout innings in the circle while allowing just two hits in her first action since 2024 after missing all of last season due to injury.
In the bottom of the sixth, the tides turned as Sul Ross State rattled off five straight runs to take command of the game.
Lily Barfield (0-1, L) and
Jaycee McKee both saw action in the circle. Barfield pitched 0.2 innings, throwing 38 pitches and allowing four runs. McKee collected the final out, throwing 12 pitches and giving up one run after coming in with the bases loaded.
In the seventh,
Jaylynn Freer drew a leadoff walk. Two batters later,
Sierra Woods hit a ball up the middle to second base, and an throwing error allowed her to reach safely. Freer was able to round the bases from first to cut the deficit to 5-2, but that would be the end of any comeback attempt for SWOSU.
Rahon led the Dawgs with two hits while four others adding a hit to the scoresheet. SWOSU had eight runners LOB compared to just five for the Lobos.
Game Two
UTPB 4, SWOSU 0
The bats could not find a rhythm in the second game of the day, as the Dawgs managed just four hits through 23 batters.
UTPB was led by ace Jessica Cantrell, who pitched a complete game and allowed just four hits and no runs while striking out ten Bulldogs on the day.
A home run in the second inning opened the scoring for UTPB, and they added three more in the fourth to build a 4-0 lead, which would stand as the final after the Bulldogs were unable to get on the board.
Riley Lusk led the team with two hits, going 2-3 at the plate, while
Kennedi Caine and
Jaylynn Freer each added a hit for the Bulldogs.
Alexis Taylor (0-1, L) pitched five innings and allowed seven hits and four runs, all earned, with five strikeouts through 22 batters faced.
Jaycee McKee worked the final 2.0 innings, allowing two hits and no runs while facing seven batters.
