The University of the Southwest Softball team hosted two RRAC opponents this weekend. The Lady Mustangs squared off against Texas A&M-Texarkana on Friday and Louisiana State University Alexandria on Saturday. After taking one of four the previous weekend, USW looked to fare better against their upcoming opponents.
 
TAMUT
 
GAME 1
It would be a tough series for the Lady Mustangs as they would be going against a 19-1 Texarkana team. Starter Hope Quinones kept the Eagles quiet for the first two innings of the ballgame, but they would not stay silent much longer.
 
TAMUT began the scoring with an RBI single in the 3^rd inning, followed by a sacrifice fly to bring in another. They would add an RBI double in the 4^th inning to extend their lead to 3-0. 
 
The Eagles would continue to apply pressure with an RBI triple, and another sacrifice fly in the 5^th inning. It would not end there as they added four more runs in the top half of the 6^th inning, all coming with two outs. Texarkana would take game one of the series 9-0.
 
GAME 2
Texarkana continued their strong offensive play by starting the scoring with a 2-out RBI double in the top of the 2^nd. Two out timely hitting looked to be the strength of Texarkana's offense up to this point in the series. 
 
After a silent game one, the bats came to life for the Lady Mustangs, starting with a solo home run from Freshman Hannah Campos in the bottom of the 2^nd to even the scoring. Campos would come back up in the 3^rd inning and delivered a 2-RBI double on her way to a 2 for 3 day at the dish. Later in the 3^rd, Amanda Perez would drive in another with a sacrifice fly to make it a 4-1 game. 
 
The Eagles would scratch one across in the top of the 4^th when a leadoff triple would eventually score on an RBI groundout. 
 
An answer would be right around the corner when Janessa Gabaldon homered with two outs in the bottom half of the inning. 
 
That is all starter Marley Moralez would need on the mound, as the Junior would throw a complete game with five strikeouts and only allow two runs. The Lady Mustangs would take game two 5-2 and hand Texarkana their second loss of the season. 
 
LSUA
 
GAME 1
The scoring would not begin in game one until the 4^th inning when LSUA would strike with an RBI double with no outs. Starter Marley Moralez would do well to get out of the jam by striking out the next two batters and getting a fly out for the third out.
 
Moralez would go all seven for the Lady Mustangs, striking out ten batters and allowing four earned runs. 
 
Alexandria would get to Moralez again in the 5^th inning when an error brought in the second run. A two-out triple would result in two more runs being plated and extending LSUA's lead to four. 
 
The Lady Mustangs would answer in the bottom half when Amanda Perez doubled to bring in Mikayla Martinez. A couple of batters later, Xyla Madry would get a double of her own but for two RBIs. 
 
It would stay a 4-3 game going into the 7^th inning when LSUA led off with a solo home run to create a little cushion. They would add one more on an RBI single later in the inning to make it 6-3. 
 
LSUA pitching would hold USW scoreless in the bottom, giving them the win in game one of the doubleheader. 
 
GAME 2
LSUA would not wait to get the scoring started in the second game as they would add one on an RBI single with the bases loaded in the 1^st inning. Starter Hope Quinones would get herself out of the inning with a strikeout on her way to four innings pitched with four strikeouts, and four earned runs. 
 
Alexandria would get three more runs in the 3^rd and 4^th inning to extend their lead to 4-0. The Mustangs would get one back in the bottom of the 4^th when Amanda Perez stole home on an attempted stolen base from Mikayla Martinez. 
 
LSUA continued to pressure USW with their bats as they struck for five more runs before the end of this one. The Lady Mustangs would fall 9-1 and drop the series. 
 
Head Coach Chris Petroski said following the weekend, "This was an eye opener Conference weekend for the girls and coaches. We know our potential and see what we can do during games, and we have to continue to play together as one on the field and in the dugout." 

"The conference season is just underway, and I'm excited to see all the pieces come together. Trust and doing a job are going to be key when we go on the road to San Antonio next weekend to face OLLU and TAMUSA." 
 
 
USW Softball returns with a midweek battle against Wayland Baptist on Tuesday at home. Continue to follow USW Athletics and USW Softball on all social media for scores and updates throughout the season.