The University of the Southwest Softball team opened their season at Baker Field this weekend with a four-game series against Oklahoma Panhandle State University (OPSU). The two teams met at the start of last season, with OPSU sweeping the four-game series. The Lady Mustangs fared better this season but still dropped the series 3-1.
 
GAME 1 
The Lady Mustangs struggled to get going offensively in game 1, with OPSU getting some good pitching and defense. Panhandle would open up the scoring in the second inning with a 2-RBI double. They would tack on a couple more in the third from an RBI single, and RBI ground out. They would add a little more insurance in the seventh inning with another RBI single to put the game out of reach, 5-0.
 
Freshman Kilee Raulston had herself a solid day at the plate, collecting both of the Lady Mustangs' hits on the day. Junior Marley Moralez pitched all seven innings for USW with seven strikeouts and allowing five earned runs. 
 
GAME 2
The scoring opened up in the second inning when Panhandle tripled in their leadoff single to go up 1-0. The Lady Mustangs' bats would wake up, though, as they would score in the fourth inning to tie it when Freshman Xyla Madry doubled to score Grad Student Kenzi Savell. In the fifth, Junior Amanda Perez would triple to bring in Grad Student Michaela Trevino and give USW the lead. Pinch hitter Elizabet Pinon would step up and drive in Perez with an RBI single to make it 3-1. 
 
Panhandle would not go away quietly as they rallied to score three in the top of the seventh to give themselves a 4-3 lead. USW tried to muster up something in the seventh but fell short of getting themselves back in it. 
 
Junior Hope Quinones pitched great for the Lady Mustangs with 6.1 innings of work, allowing only two earned runs and racking up seven strikeouts. Sophomore Ashley Alvarez pitched in relief with a strikeout and no runs allowed.
 
GAME 3
On day two of the series, the Lady Mustangs had a chance to even it up with two wins. They started with an Amanda Perez single in the first inning to score Michaela Trevino. 
 
Unfortunately, this would be all the USW could collect in the run column as OPSU began their scoring in the third inning. Panhandle would score seven just in the third inning and add another in the seventh inning to win 8-1. Panhandle pitching would only allow the one run and just three hits to USW's offense.
 
GAME 4
After a loss in the first three games of the series, USW looked to salvage the series finale against Panhandle. It did not start as planned, with OPSU scoring three in the first inning. The Lady Mustangs would answer when Freshman Hannah Campos would draw a throw on a stolen base to allow Junior Felicity Villanueva to score. 
 
OPSU would add an unearned run in the top half of the second inning with a sacrifice fly to center field. The Lady Mustangs answered when Michaela Trevino tripled in two runs to cut the lead to 4-3. OPSU singled in another run in the fifth inning to extend their lead to 5-3. USW answered once again with an Elizabet Pinon 2-RBI single to tie the game in the bottom half of the fifth. In the sixth, Felicity Villanueva reached on an error to the shortstop, allowing Sophomore Shayla Rey to score for a 6-5 lead. Hannah Campos stepped up and tripled in Michaela Trevino and Villanueva to extend USW's lead to three. Amanda Perez would reach on an error to allow another runner to score, making it 9-5. 
 
Marley Moralez would pick up the win with 6.1 innings thrown in relief, allowing only one earned run and striking out five. 
 
Head Coach Chris Petroski had this say after the series, "I am proud of the fight in our girls in this weekend's series against a tough OPSU program.  We were outsized in stature but not in heart and determination. The team kept the games close despite minor mental and physical miscues. We did lack offense in the first three games but had some players really step up and do their part for the team. Having the momentum and not breaking down when things weren't in our favor was the key in pulling out the win in the last game. It was a total team effort and win. We had many roles play a role, little or big, in the game to get the win." 

"I believe in the girls and trust that we will continue to grow and play as one in order to have a successful season." 

"Our offense will come around more and more before we head for our next series against SAGU."
 
The Lady Mustangs will have a bit of a break but return on February 17^th and 18^th on the road against Southwestern Assemblies of God. Continue to follow USW Athletics and USW Softball on all social media for scores and updates throughout the season.